In this episode, Marcus Edwardes speaks with Vanessa Raath, a global sourcing trainer and international keynote speaker based in South Africa.

Listen in as Vanessa explains how sourcers may navigate today’s incredibly noisy market and some of the most common issues that outbound recruiters, specifically, are now facing.

Vanessa also gives her tips on becoming the go-to recruiter in today’s candidate-driven market. She speaks on the unique challenges that agency recruiters face and why it’s so much more imperative that these professionals focus on the relationships they build with clients.

She discusses why sourcers today need to stand out and how to best build a personal brand that gives them that credibility they need to earn clients’ attention from the get-go and, later, trust. Equally important is the ability to tailor your messaging to the individuals you reach out to give that personal touch that is sorely lacking today.

Finally, Vanessa talks about the long-term benefits of nurturing relationships early and how every organization needs a Community Manager.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

●      [02:42] Regional differences in how Vanessa trains clients

●      [05:04] Navigating an incredibly noisy market

●      [07:11] Common problems that outbound recruiters are facing

●      [11:18] Strengthening the relationship between agency and client

●      [13:36] Why solely using LinkedIn Recruiter severely limits reach

●      [16:14] Vanessa’s definition of a “sourcer”

●      [17:15] The key skills Vanessa is equipping her students

●      [22:51] Platforms that Vanessa recommends outside of LinkedIn Recruiter

●      [27:41] Email outreach best practices

●      [30:10] Why it pays to nurture relationships early

●      [32:58] Whether or not it helps to automate relationships

Key quotes:

●      “The recruiters that are going to be really successful in this market are the ones who build outstanding relationships with their candidates.”

●      “As a sourcer, you need to realize that you’ve got the whole internet at your fingertips.”

●      “A good sourcer of talent needs to start developing a good online brand, online kudos, and credibility. And the reason for that is, when you reach out to candidates, you need to look like someone who knows what they’re talking about, because you’re going to be cross-referenced.”

●      “The more that you are active on social media and the more you have a presence, the more people are going to be approaching you. And that’s what it’s all about. It’s hard work sourcing from scratch all the time.”