Why sourcing is the place to be
There’s so many things I like about sourcing, not the least of which is having the opportunity to be creative in a job that hasn’t traditionally (at least in the corporate sense) had much creativity to it.
For clarity’s sake, sourcing to me is the new recruiting. Sourcing encompasses active searching, talent networks and pipelining, and also can include recruitment advertising. The first two are obvious, the last one in that list may be debated by some. Here’s why I think sourcer’s should be involved in recruitment advertising.
First off, to be an effective sourcer requires creativity. Creativity in the sense of a good detective. Obviously to ’source’ you have to know where to look, or find your sources. This means knowing your target candidate, where they hang out, the associations, organizations, and other social networks where you may be able to connect with them.
Recruitment advertising (and I don’t mean job board postings, yawn) is about knowing your target audience. Knowing them on a basic level yes (qualifications, education, experience, etc.) but also knowing them on a psychological or maybe behavioural level. The perfect example of this is the Google Billboard . I’m convinced someone with the heart of a sourcer was in on that idea along with Crispin Porter + Bogusky .
Jim Stroud knows what I’m talking about with this riff. Beyond his usual sourcing , web 2.0 wonkishness, and recruiting comic genius, he has outdone himself with the recent subservient chicken rant (Its almost as though he’s had our offices bugged here) and also today’s post. It strikes at what I’m getting at and think about alot and what makes it fun and interesting to be in sourcing.
Finding people, and recruiting people is all about being specific, being individual. Knowing the details of what a group of individuals does, has in their background, does in their spare time, and how to connect with those people is what sourcing is all about. Isn’t that also what advertising is all about? This is why sourcing is the place to be for me, and why I’m excited to be a part of what’s next.
