What Is a Talent Sourcer? What They Do and Sample Job Description

Ever tried to fill an important position and been unable to find suitable candidates? Talent sourcing is an art that requires a blend of strategic thinking, proactive searching, and a deep understanding of the job market and specific role. 

A talent sourcer plays a critical role in the recruitment process, acting as the bridge between potential candidates and the hiring team. 

This article will explore their role, the benefits they provide, and the qualifications to look for. We’ve also put together a sample talent sourcer job description for you to tweak ahead of your search. 

What Is a Talent Sourcer?

A talent sourcer is a specialized recruitment professional who identifies, engages, and pre-screens potential candidates for a job vacancy within an organization. 

Unlike recruiters, who often manage the entire recruiting process from start to finish, talent sourcers focus exclusively on the initial stages, laying the groundwork for a successful hire. 

Talent sourcers use various sourcing tools, including social media platforms, job boards, professional networks, and other online resources, to find and attract top talent.

They also use advanced search techniques like Boolean search and data mining to unearth passive candidates (those who aren’t actively searching but are open to new opportunities). 

But their role involves more than just finding exceptional candidates. Talent sourcers also build relationships and cultivate talent pipelines for future hiring needs. They assess candidate qualifications against job requirements and ensure the quality and relevance of a potential hire before passing them on. 

What Can a Talent Sourcer Do for Your Business?

Here’s how a talent sourcer can make a significant impact on your company’s success:

Quality of hires

By thoroughly understanding your company’s needs, talent sourcers ensure that candidates meet the necessary qualifications and cultural fit before passing them on to recruiters. This rigorous candidate evaluation process leads to higher-quality hires who are more likely to succeed and stay longer with your company. 

Cost savings

By improving the quality of hires and reducing the time to hire, your company can minimize the costs associated with lengthy vacancies and frequent turnover. Sourcing passive candidates can also reduce reliance on expensive job advertisements and external recruitment agencies. 

Market intelligence

Talent sourcers not only search for candidates but also gather valuable market intelligence. They stay up to date on industry trends, salary benchmarks, and competitor activities. This information can inform recruitment strategies and make your business more competitive in the job market. 

Employer branding

Employer branding is critical for retaining talent: 92% of employees would consider changing jobs with no salary increase if the new company had an excellent reputation. 

Talent sourcers also play a crucial role in employer branding. Through their interactions with potential candidates, they can communicate your company’s value proposition, business culture, and opportunities, helping to build a positive employer brand that attracts top talent.

What Skills and Qualifications Should a Talent Sourcer Have?

Efficient talent sourcing requires specific skills and qualifications. Here are the key attributes to look for: 

Education and experience in talent sourcing

Typically, a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field is preferred. However, equivalent experience can often compensate for formal education.

Experience in specific industries or roles can also be beneficial, ensuring the talent sourcer has a good grasp of the job’s requirements and nuances.

Strong communication skills

Talent sourcers need to be excellent communicators, both written and verbal. They must be able to craft compelling messages that attract qualified candidates and clearly convey the benefits and opportunities of positions within your organization.

Interpersonal skills are equally important, as talent sourcers must build relationships with candidates, even those who may not be actively looking for new opportunities. Strong listening skills are essential for understanding candidates’ career aspirations and aligning them with suitable roles within your company.

Knowledge of applicant tracking systems

Proficiency with applicant tracking systems (ATSs) is a must for modern talent sourcers. An ATS helps streamline the entire recruitment process, from posting job openings to tracking applications and managing candidate data.

A skilled talent sourcer will be familiar with various ATS platforms and know how to leverage their features to improve efficiency. These include:

• Search functionalities
• Candidate databases
• Report generation

Familiarity with ATS integrations and other HR technology gives them an edge in managing the end-to-end candidate sourcing process.

Understands and is up to date with talent acquisition trends

The recruitment landscape is constantly evolving, with new trends and best practices emerging regularly. An effective talent sourcer must stay up to date with these changes to remain competitive and attract top talent.

They should also be proactive in continuing education, whether through industry conferences, webinars, or professional organizations, to ensure they remain at the forefront of talent acquisition practices.

Sample Talent Sourcer Job Description

Here’s an example of a talent sourcer job description to use for your job posting. Tailor it to the specific needs of your company and role requirements.

Job Title: Talent Sourcer

Location: [City, State]

Position Type: Full-time [hybrid/in-person/remote]

Job Summary

We are looking for a proactive and dedicated Talent Sourcer to join our dynamic team. You will be responsible for identifying and engaging highly skilled candidates to support our recruiting efforts. 

This role involves collaborating closely with recruiters and hiring managers to understand job requirements and create effective sourcing strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify potential candidates: Use social media, job boards, and existing networks to find and engage with prospective candidates.
• Develop talent pipelines: Foster long-term relationships with potential candidates to build and maintain talent pipelines for current and future hiring needs.
• Screen candidates: Conduct preliminary screening to assess candidates’ qualifications, skills, and cultural fit before passing them to recruiters.
• Market intelligence: Stay updated on industry trends, competitor activities, and job market conditions to provide valuable insights to the recruitment team.
• Employer branding: Communicate the company’s value proposition, culture, and opportunities to potential candidates to build a strong employer brand.
• Collaborate with recruitment team: Work closely with recruiters and hiring managers to understand job requirements and develop effective sourcing strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum of 2–3 years of experience in talent sourcing, recruitment, or a related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft engaging messages and build relationships with potential candidates.
• Experience with applicant tracking systems (ATSs) and other recruitment software.
• Awareness of current talent acquisition trends and best practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• High level of attention to detail and organizational skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous PTO policy to ensure work-life balance.
• Opportunities for ongoing training and career development.

To make creating your job description easier, try our job description generator, which you can customize to fit your organization’s needs. 

Final Thoughts

A talent sourcer can be an invaluable asset to your recruitment team, streamlining the hiring process and ensuring you have access to competent candidates. 

But while hiring a dedicated talent sourcer offers a number of benefits, sometimes you need an all-encompassing solution. Consider the additional benefits of leveraging our expertise at Near. We’ve helped hundreds of US companies cut 50–70% of their sourcing and screening time with our comprehensive recruitment services. 

Ready to take the next step? Reach out and book a free, no-commitment call, and let’s find your ideal candidates today.