It’s been a LONG time coming, but I finally got around to updating my free sourcing & recruiting tools, guides and resources page where I now keep a current list of the best of my work all in one place for easy bookmarking and reference. You can find it here on my main page: Additionally, I thought … Read More
Do you suffer from Obsessive Exotic Sourcing Syndrome?
Okay, that might have been a bit dramatic, but I do expect a strong negative reaction from some folks because I am going to address an issue that might be a tad sensitive to the sourcing community. The issue I would like to address is the apparent obsession of many with exotic sourcing. What is Exotic Sourcing? If … Read More
Two of the Coolest Recruiting Sites I’ve Ever Seen
I have come across some interesting recruiting sites over the years, and I wanted to share 2 among the best with you today. Both offer fully interactive experiences, leverage gamification, are brilliantly designed and executed, and happen to have been produced by…(wait for it)…the Swedish Armed Forces. Surprised? You’ll want to set aside a little bit of free (non-prime) time … Read More
Are you a clueless recruiter?
You know what they say about first impressions? Do you ever wonder what people think of you based on the emails, InMails, voice mails, LinkedIn group posts, and other messaging efforts you undertake to make an initial contact with potential candidates? You should. Do you think they feel that they can get a sense of your competence as a recruiter … Read More
How to Effectively Source Talent via Social Media & Networks
Sourcing talent via social media requires an entirely different mindset than sourcing with other forms of human capital data, such as resumes/CV’s, employee directories, conference attendee lists, etc. Back in early 2009, one of only 2 guest posts ever co-written on my site was published on the topic of non-standard descriptors and the role they play in social media. Valerie Scarsellato … Read More
How to Convert Quotation Marks in Word for Boolean Searches
Have you ever used Microsoft Word to build and save Boolean search strings to be able to copy and paste entire searches into LinkedIn, Monster, Dice, or your ATS ? I did for quite some time, until I ran into a problem. Many years ago, I noticed that several sites, including Monster, Dice, and LinkedIn were not “obeying” my request … Read More
Do You Have the Proper Perspective in Recruiting?
It is all too easy for sourcers, recruiters, HR professionals, and hiring managers/teams to develop a skewed, distorted, and decidedly one-way view of the world. Perhaps spending 99% of the time on only one side of the recruiting process is to blame. Regardless of the cause, it is absolutely critical to regularly take the time and think about, understand, and … Read More
Why Sourcing is Superior to Posting Jobs for Talent
Posting a job online is perhaps the first action most companies take to attract talent when they have an opening. However, posting jobs in an attempt to attract qualified talent has many intrinsic flaws, and here are the top 4 in my opinion: Posting jobs a passive strategy Posting jobs offers no control over candidate qualifications Job advertisements only attract candidates who are actively … Read More
Sourcing is an Investigative and Iterative Process
When I see a strong interest in a “Top 10” or “Top 25” list of Boolean search strings, it becomes clear to me that a disconnect can exist between wanting something that solves a problem (a search string to find candidates) and the ability to create something that solves a problem. While there is undoubtedly value in a list of … Read More
Recruiting is a Matter of Perspective
Now that one year has passed since I wrote the original post, I have decided to significantly update and repost it – you can find it here.
LinkedIn Sourcing Tip: Searching by Company? Beware!
Recently, I wrote about the intrinsic issues associated with searching LinkedIn for potential candidates with specific industry experience, and how using the “Industry” field can actually prevent you from finding the people you’re looking for. A number of readers responded by suggesting a logical solution to the issue – searching by specific company name(s) instead of using LinkedIn’s “Industry” field. It is a … Read More