Articles

On this page we will be providing links to articles in the recruiting industry that we think you will find very useful in your efforts as a recruiter or a research analyst. We will also provide articles written by our own staff of experts which will explain tips and tricks to help you in your efforts, as well as discussing trends in the industry as a whole.

• Voicemail Surfing, An RW Stearns Original Article

by Greg Pankow, RW Stearns, Inc
January 14, 2009

What is Voicemail Surfing? Voicemail Surfing is using documented, built-in features of the different voicemail systems to get directly to the person you need to speak with, avoiding receptionists, administrative assistants, and others that we call “gatekeepers”.

This article discusses the techniques, tips, tricks and specific commands for different voicemail systems that will allow you complete access to anyone you are looking for at a specific company.

• Recruiting Passive Candidates in Tough Economic Times

by Lou Adler
Jul 18, 2008

Consider this as a basic truth: in tough economic times every job looks better, especially the one you already have. This would imply that during recessions there are fewer good people actively looking and it’s tougher to get the best passive consider to even discuss your career opportunity. If this is the case, one could conclude that the bulk of the people who are looking during economic downturns tend to be those who are unemployed or marginally employed. Since this group does not represent the best-of-the-best, you’ll need to rethink your entire sourcing strategy to make sure it’s targeting the people you want to hire...
http://www.ere.net/2008/07/18/recruiting-passive-candidates-in-tough-economic-times/

• Are Passive Candidates Becoming More Passive?

by Lou Adler
Apr 29, 2005

John Sullivan’s great article on innovative sourcing ideas should be read by everyone in recruiting. The essence: You need to be super creative to reach out to the best candidates ó who by and large all are passive. This requires a shift in resources, from waiting for people to apply to reaching out and getting them interested. The implications of this shift in sourcing are huge. Systems and processes designed for hiring active candidates will not work too well for hiring passive candidates. Since they don’t work too well now, imagine what will happen when they work even less well. This affects ATS design, interviewing and assessment systems, recruitment advertising, the application process, and the selection and use of job boards, as well as the role of the recruiter, hiring manager, and everyone else on the interviewing team. Passive candidate name-generating methods will increase in importance…
http://www.ere.net/2005/04/29/are-passive-candidates-becoming-more-passive/

• Can’t Find People? Try Name-Generation Firms To Solve Your Sourcing Problems

by Dr. John Sullivan
Jul 19, 2004

Any recruiter worth his or her salt knows that there are three essential elements to recruiting: 1) sourcing or finding names, 2) assessment, and 3) selling the candidate. Most corporate recruiters are weakest at the first stage, which is finding the names and contact information of the ideal candidate (the working professional that has the same job title as your open requisition). Fortunately, there is an easy solution to this candidate identification problem that, for some reason, 75% of the corporate recruiters and 98% of the managers I have worked with have never heard of. It’s puzzling to me that they don’t utilize it, because this solution to finding and targeting candidates is quick, relatively inexpensive, and essentially ends the candidate identification problem…
http://www.ere.net/2004/07/19/cant-find-people-try-name-generation-firms-to-solve-your-sourcing-problems/