August 23, 2025

What is Candidate Sourcing?

8 min read
What is Candidate Sourcing?

What is Candidate Sourcing?

At Shalini Virtuals, we’ve been mastering candidate sourcing for over 20 years from our base in Mumbai, India, supporting recruiters and headhunters worldwide. As a key part of our Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) services, candidate sourcing is how we help our international clients find the perfect talent for their companies. Today, I’ll break down what candidate sourcing is, how we do it, and why it’s essential for your hiring success.

Defining Candidate Sourcing

Candidate sourcing is the proactive process of identifying and engaging potential candidates for job openings. Unlike traditional job postings where candidates apply on their own, we go out and find them—whether they’re actively job hunting or happily employed but open to new opportunities. It’s about building a talent pipeline that ensures you always have the right people ready when you need them.

For us, this means using our expertise to search for both active and passive candidates, making it a cornerstone of our back-office support for recruiters across the US and Europe.

How We Source Candidates

With 20+ years of experience, we’ve developed a systematic approach to candidate sourcing. Here’s how we do it:

1. Exploring Diverse Platforms

We tap into a variety of job boards and networking sites like LinkedIn, Xing, and Viadeo. Our team knows how to navigate these platforms to uncover talent that matches your specific needs, ensuring a wide and relevant reach.

2. Targeting Active and Passive Candidates

Active candidates are those applying to jobs, while passive candidates are not actively looking but might be persuaded by the right opportunity. We use advanced techniques to identify both, giving you access to a broader talent pool.

3. Conducting Thorough Research

Our internet research skills shine here. We dig deep to find candidates with the right skills, experience, and cultural fit, using tools and strategies honed over decades to deliver quality results.

4. Building a Talent Pipeline

We don’t just find candidates for one role—we create a database of potential hires. Using systems like PCRecruiter and Bullhorn, we manage and update these records, ensuring you’re prepared for future needs.

Why Candidate Sourcing Matters

Candidate sourcing is a game-changer for recruitment, and we’ve seen its impact firsthand. Here’s why it’s so valuable:

  • Wider Talent Pool: By reaching passive candidates, we bring in talent you might not find through applications alone.
  • Time Efficiency: We handle the search, saving you hours of manual effort so you can focus on interviewing and closing hires.
  • Competitive Edge: In a competitive market, having a ready pipeline of candidates sets you apart from businesses relying solely on job boards.

Our Unique Approach at Shalini Virtuals

What makes our candidate sourcing stand out? We blend global best practices with local efficiency, serving clients without paid logins or phone-based outreach. Our virtual assistant team leads the charge, managing everything from initial research to database updates. You can trust our process, as reflected in our client recommendations on LinkedIn.

Is Candidate Sourcing Right for You?

If you’re struggling to find the right talent or want to streamline your recruitment process, candidate sourcing is a must. It’s perfect for businesses looking to scale globally or fill niche roles. We’ve helped countless clients build strong teams by taking this proactive approach.

Ready to enhance your hiring strategy? Contact us today to see how our candidate sourcing services can benefit you. Also, dive into our blog on How We Find Perfect Candidates for Our Clients' Companies for more details!

Published on August 23, 2025