Four major processes make up our sourcing effort. Each of these feeds into the other. A sourcing engagement may involve multiple iterations of the four processes. These are:

Strategy: The sourcing strategy is the most critical aspect of the sourcing cycle. It is important to understand the need, analyze it and negotiate expectations with the end client. An open channel needs to be set in case there is a need to renegotiate. Once a good understanding and some indication of the feasibility are determined an initial cut strategy or game plan is put in place to determine how the sourcing effort will proceed. The sourcing strategy is revised as research and execution progresses depending on success. It is critical to get sign off from the client on this phase.

Research: An important component. Research provides the direction and details for the sourcing effort to progress. The initial effort is to find out and understand the company’s local ecosystem in the country where the resources are needed. The initial deliverable is passed on to the sourcer to start the sourcing effort. The sourcer then provides feedback and input into the research effort. What needs to be further researched, what areas are not working, what other areas need to be looked into. The research and sourcing effort work in tandem.

Sourcing: The crux of the cycle. Using guidelines from the sourcing strategy and direction from the research effort the sourcing effort gets rolling. The sourcer makes progress and updates the researcher. The strategy is also revised if needed.

Reach Out: The execution phase where potential candidates are reached. The sourcing effort pinpoints who needs to be contacted and using what channel. The quality of the response and the response rate are fed back into the sourcing phase which then updates the research phase. Reach out may be employed to maximize reach out and generate a critical mass or be very focused to communicate with a few select prospects.

The four phases have nine activities working to assist them to do their roles. On the strategy side these are the needs analysis. The research side includes: company ecosystem research. Sourcing includes: passive sourcing, business networking sourcing, headhunting and referral networking. Reach out includes: global job processing, candidate pipelines, out reach campaigns.

Complimentary Toolkit

Sourcing Assessment

How effectively are you sourcing for talent? Take our easy assessment!