February 2025
It’s always easier to hire someone actively searching for a new role—they’re more motivated and eager to prove themselves. You can tap into this pool of candidates by posting ads, and the top platforms for job postings today are LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter. If you post on all three, it’s unlikely any active job seeker will miss your opportunity. Nineteen years ago, it was Monster, CareerBuilder, and Hot Jobs; before that, the local newspaper was the go-to. I miss those days.
If you’re unsure how to start with a job posting, tools like ChatGPT can generate a remarkably accurate draft for any title you need. Creating job descriptions is no longer a rare skill in today’s economy.
However, if you want to access the other, often more valuable, group of candidates—those who aren’t actively looking—you’ll need to engage in outbound recruiting. There’s a strong case to be made that some of the best hires come from this category, though it requires more effort to attract them. They need to be inspired to make a move. You can manage this without a recruiter if you prefer, and here’s how:
LinkedIn is the best tool to identify potential candidates for outbound recruiting. Start by typing the job title you’re seeking into the search bar, then use filters to narrow by location or specific companies you’d like to recruit from. If your list of results seems small, it’s likely because your network isn’t broad enough—think of the “six degrees of separation” concept and start expanding your connections. Adding a few recruiters or industry professionals can significantly boost your reach.
Once you find someone you’re interested in, send them a connection request, but don’t skip the note. Make it personal. Here’s a simple outline for your message:
- We’re hiring.
- We’d love to consider you because {acknowledge something specific in their background that caught your attention}.
- Here’s what our company and this role offer {create a compelling narrative—Bridgeway tip #1}.
- Include a link to your calendar so they can schedule a time to talk.
This approach is a solid foundation for building your candidate pipeline through outbound recruiting.