By
Leanna Seah
May 15, 2023
Updated
September 12, 2024
What is a passive candidate?
A passive candidate is an individual who is currently employed and not actively searching for a new job opportunity. This group comprises a significant portion of the workforce, with approximately 70% of professionals falling into this category. While these candidates may be content and engaged in their current roles, they are valuable prospects for employers seeking to fill open positions, particularly if they possess niche skills or expertise.
Comparison to active candidates
Active candidates, on the other hand, are individuals who are currently searching for a new position. They makeup 30% of the workforce and typically have their resumes and profiles updated to reflect their job-seeking status. Unlike passive candidates, active candidates are more readily available for interviews and job offers.
How to identify passive candidates
Common characteristics
Passive candidates tend to be satisfied in their current positions and may possess niche skills in high demand. They often have a stable work history and may have received promotions or other achievements within their current companies. These factors make passive candidates attractive prospects to recruiters.
Online presence
Identifying passive candidates requires recruiters to search beyond traditional job boards. Their online presence may include a well-updated LinkedIn profile, industry-related forums, or blog posts. They may also participate in professional groups or contribute to industry conversations.
Social media profiles
Scouring social media profiles and professional networks is an effective way to find passive candidates. Platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter can give insights into the candidate's skills, work history, and professional interests, helping recruiters to identify potential matches for open positions.
How to effectively engage passive candidates
Engaging passive candidates can bring valuable talent to your organization. These candidates are not actively seeking a job but may be open to new opportunities.
Here are some ways to engage them for potential opportunities with your business:
Effective recruitment strategies
A proactive approach, such as passive recruiting, is important for identifying top talent. Employers can use Boolean searches and social media to find and engage passive candidates.
Build and nurture the relationship
To successfully engage passive candidates, it's crucial to focus on building relationships. Passive recruiting involves nurturing a network of qualified, already-employed candidates that can be tapped into when job openings arise.
Advantages of hiring passive candidates
Employers often find value in hiring passive candidates due to their highly desirable skill sets, specialised experience, and potential industry connections they have built over time.
High-quality candidates
Passive candidates are usually high-quality candidates with a proven track record of success. As they are not actively looking for a new role, it is highly likely that should they consider a new role; they will be more selective and discerning about the opportunities they pursue.
Competitive advantage
By identifying and approaching passive candidates, you can tap into a talent pool that is not actively seeking job opportunities. This can give you an edge in securing top talent that may not be available through traditional job postings or recruitment methods.
Reduced time and cost
Hiring passive candidates can be a more efficient and cost-effective recruitment strategy. Since passive candidates are not actively seeking employment, they are less likely to be inundated with job offers, which means they may be more responsive to outreach from recruiters. Additionally, since they are not actively job hunting, you may not need to spend as much time and resources on job postings, advertising, or other traditional recruitment methods.
Improved retention
As passive candidates are not actively seeking new opportunities, they may be less likely to leave their current employer. This can result in improved retention rates for your organisation, as you are more likely to hire candidates who are committed to their work and are less likely to jump ship at the first opportunity.
Diverse perspectives
Passive candidates may come from various backgrounds and industries, which can bring fresh perspectives and ideas to your organization. By hiring passive candidates, you can tap into a wider range of talent and diversity, leading to improved innovation and problem-solving within your organisation.
Challenges of hiring passive candidates
While there are advantages to hiring passive candidates, there are also potential challenges to consider.
Here are some that may arise:
Limited candidate pool
Passive candidate may be harder to find and identify compared to active job seekers. You may need to use more targeted and strategic recruitment methods, such as networking or reaching out to them directly.
Reluctance to leave current employer
Passive candidates are usually satisfied with their current job and may be hesitant to leave for a new opportunity. They may need more convincing and persuasion to consider a new job offer.
Limited visibility into candidate's job fit
They may not have a current resume or may not have updated their online profiles. This can make it harder to assess their skills, experience, and overall fit for the role.
Longer recruitment process
Recruiting passive candidates can take longer than hiring active job seekers, as you may need to spend more time building relationships, networking, and nurturing candidates before they are ready to consider a job offer. This can be challenging for organisations that need to fill open positions quickly.
Salary expectations
Passive candidates may have higher salary expectations than active job seekers, as they are not desperate for a new job and may be more selective about the opportunities they consider.
Conclusion
Recruiting passive candidates can be challenging, often requiring more effort from requiters. However, the potential benefits it can bring also make it a worthwhile strategy for organisations that want to build a team of highly skilled and experienced professionals.
