In just a few weeks, Ardent Partners and the Future of Work Exchange will publish the next edition of its landmark direct sourcing series, The Next Era of Direct Sourcing. Today, we present a sneak peek of the groundbreaking new research study. Stay tuned to the Exchange for more news about the new report (and maybe another sneak peek!).

Just a few years ago, the majority of direct sourcing programs revolved around a near-simplified core of processes and strategies meant to assist the overall organization in developing flexible talent pools and talent communities. Since then, direct sourcing has become synonymous with the continued evolution of talent; businesses that desire deep organizational and workforce agility are actively harnessing the power of talent pools (and placing top candidates into the recruiting process) as a viable means of reducing talent acquisition costs, ensuring top-tier skillsets and expertise, and structuring a truly dynamic workforce.

Historically, direct sourcing delivers value by enabling (1) deeper candidate pipelines, without the need for staffing suppliers or intermediaries, 2) more active recruiting and engagement of known talent, such as “silver medalists” and past contractors, and 3) more savings, both hard (reduced staffing markups, more competitive rates, etc.) and soft (higher-quality talent, faster fill rates, stronger performance, reduced risk of bad hires, etc.). In essence, direct sourcing entails several key “phases” that comprise a larger and dedicated program:

• Talent curation. Talent curators (often consisting of business leaders well-versed in talent acquisition and hiring) are responsible for identifying top-tier workers and “collections” of expertise and skills that can be tapped in an on-demand manner.
• Talent pool development. Talent pool development involves grouping various types of candidates into an on-demand channel of known workers, such as retirees, alumni, silver medalists, past freelancers/contractors, and new candidates that are engaged via branded job portals.
• Talent pool segmentation. By segmenting talent pools, businesses can better align new job or project requirements with available candidates. Talent pool segmentation most often involves the cross-section of candidates by geography/region, skillsets and expertise, compensation, certifications, etc.
• Integration with core enterprise recruitment streams. One of the most critical pieces to direct sourcing is placing talent pool candidates into the main recruiting streams that hiring managers leverage to source new workers. Talent pools should be integrated and readily accessible in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), Vendor Management Systems (VMS), and other key talent acquisition and contingent workforce management platforms.
• Talent nurture and communication. This deeper element of direct sourcing involves frequent communication with candidates in talent pools to ensure that they are properly engaged and show interest in potential employment. Talent nurture has become a critical piece of today’s direct sourcing programs, as businesses contend with the “Great Resignation” and a higher number of disillusioned workers that prioritize communication, empathy, and other non-monetary benefits.
• Repeatable candidate engagement through company branding and other marketing facets. One of the essential items of direct sourcing is simple on the surface: how do we engage candidates and encourage them to opt-into our talent network? Leveraging job boards and job portals that reflect the company’s overall brand (specifically its color schema and notable design elements) and culture (social responsibility, etc.) are the ideal means of driving candidates into a network from which can be curated into deep talent pools. On top of this is the art of referrals, which, when automated, can allow existing candidates to refer like-minded and similar-skilled workers to join a company’s talent community.

While the above attributes are the veritable core of any direct sourcing program, the truth is that the strategy as a whole has evolved since it began its meteoric rise several years ago. Although even the most intermediary of efforts drive tangible value, there is so much more at stake for direct sourcing than cutting costs and expanding the overall talent pipeline.

Direct sourcing in 2023 is more than just the sum of its parts; in fact, what it represents is a near-alignment with the direct of business now and in the relative future. The labor market is still unsettled, while economic uncertainty (unfortunately) still rules the day. Businesses are in a continued war for talent, as unemployment sinks to historic lows and millions of job openings remain.

Too, the transformations happening as part of the Future of Work movement actively dictate that businesses shift their hiring strategies. All of these facets together represent a new challenge, yet, a new opportunity for direct sourcing: help enterprises cultivate a flexible and scalable workforce that drives true talent sustainability.