Talent Community: An Effective Sourcing Strategy in 2024

Given the vast job opportunities in a growing economy, 2024 will continue facing talent shortages at an even higher pace. As an employer, you must keep an eye on talented employees in your industry. But it is not possible to keep track. Here is where you need to build a talent community. 

A community that you hand-pick has your desired people. In this blog, we will tell you all how you can form a talent community that will prove to be an effective sourcing strategy in 2024.

What is a Talent Community?

A talent community is a vibrant network of individuals who share common interests, skills, or affiliations within a specific industry, profession, or organisation. 

Think of it as a virtual gathering place where like-minded professionals come together to collaborate, share insights, and build relationships. 

Through online platforms, social media groups, and forums, talent communities provide a space for professionals to connect globally, exchange resources, and engage in discussions that foster innovation and personal growth. 

These talent communities are good for recruitment marketing and offer opportunities for learning, networking and collaboration, benefiting both individuals and organizations seeking to tap into collective knowledge and expertise.

How to Create a Talent Community

Creating a talent community is an empowering endeavour that allows you to shape a space where professionals can come together, share insights, and collaborate within a specific industry, profession, or area of interest. 

Building such a community involves more than just setting up a platform – it's about cultivating a dynamic environment that encourages engagement, nurtures relationships, and adds value to the members' professional lives. 

From identifying your community's purpose to employing effective engagement strategies, the process involves a thoughtful approach that can lead to a thriving and vibrant ecosystem of like-minded individuals.

8 Proven Ways to Build a Talent Community

Creating a vibrant and engaged talent community involves strategic planning and a genuine commitment to fostering connections and growth. Here are eight effective ways to establish and nurture a thriving talent community:

1. Study your organization

To start, it's essential to understand your organization thoroughly. By examining its goals, vision, industry, competition, and the availability of talent, you can gain clarity on what type of talent you should be looking for. Take a look at the employees who have contributed to the organization's growth and consider their skills, experience, and background.

This information can help you identify how to further improve their performance. With a solid plan in place, you can begin searching for polished talents to add to your talent community.

2. Forecast your future needs

Forecasting plays a vital role in recruitment. You need to know which skills and the number of employees you will need in the future. Chances are some employees will retire, or technology may advance in your field. 

You need to understand the direction the world will be going in and forecast your future talent requirements accordingly.

3. Work closely with the hiring manager

To create a flawless talent community for your department, collaborating with the hiring manager is essential. The hiring manager possesses practical knowledge of the qualities to seek in a candidate. By partnering with a hiring manager, you can steer your talent plan in the right direction. 

They can guide you on where to find suitable candidates, which traits to avoid, and what factors to consider when building a talent community. If you lack recruitment expertise, seeking the assistance of an expert can help you choose the appropriate talents.

4. Choose the appropriate sourcing channels 

The talent community requires more sourcing than waiting for applicants to apply. When you know the candidates you need, you cannot hope the candidate to walk to you. For this, you need to check the correct places to search for those candidates. Did you know? 70% of US workers are passive candidates. 

These passive candidates are abundant on social media platforms, which is why 84% of organizations use social media for recruitment. You need to research some of the most candidate-dense platforms to source your talent community. LinkedIn is a social-professional site used by many for hiring candidates that you might also want to consider.

5. Use AI Recruitment Software

Some of the most common software for sourcing candidates is applicant tracking systems and Recruiting CRM Software that helps you analyze a candidate's interests, the companies they want to work with, the positions they want to work at, etc. These systems are backed by artificial intelligence that takes you to your desired candidates by matching their interests with yours. 

For example, if you are looking for accounting skills in an IT professional and some candidates have these skills in their resumes uploaded on job sites, then your software will link you to them. There are different uses of recruiting software that help build your professional and qualified talent community.

6. Evaluate your current sourcing strategy

It's important to regularly assess your current candidate sourcing strategy to ensure it's effective and efficient. This will help you identify any areas for improvement and refine your approach over time. Your sourcing strategy is a critical component of building a strong talent community, as top talent is often snapped up quickly in today's competitive job market. 

By having a solid strategy in place, you'll be better positioned to quickly identify and attract deserving candidates who can help take your organization to the next level.

7. Refer to employee referrals

Stay connected to your networks. In this case, your employee can be a great network to refer you to quality candidates. When you refer to them with your requirements and ask if they could refer anyone, they will feel a sense of responsibility. 

Following that, they will bring you the best candidates they know. Even if you are not hiring at the moment, you can rely on them to refer you to the right talents.

8. Connect to a staffing agency 

If you want to source a talented community without much of your effort, you should stay integrated with a staffing agency. These agencies will track talented candidates for you and build the talent community through their sourcing strategy. 

It would help if you communicated with them to keep track of their activities and, in the end, rely on the talent they recommend. This way, you can focus on other work and leave sourcing to the experts.

Difference Between Talent Community and Talent Pool

When it comes to recruiting, there are two terms that are often used interchangeably: talent community and talent pool. However, there are some key differences between the two. 

A talent community is a group of individuals who have expressed interest in working for a particular company. They may have signed up for the company's newsletter, attended a recruiting event, or engaged with the company on social media. 

On the other hand, A Talent pool is a group of candidates who have been actively sourced and screened by a recruiter. While both talent communities and talent pools can be valuable resources for hiring managers, they serve different purposes and require different approaches.

Examples of Talent Communities

Talent communities are groups of individuals who share similar skills, interests, and experiences. These communities are often created by companies and organizations to engage with potential candidates for employment or to connect with current employees. 

Examples of talent communities include groups for software developers, designers, marketers, and healthcare professionals. These communities allow individuals to network, collaborate, and share knowledge and resources. 

They also provide a platform for companies to establish a strong employer brand and attract top talent. Overall, talent communities are an effective way to build relationships and foster a sense of belonging among individuals who share common interests and goals.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, talent communities are a valuable resource for both individuals and companies. By fostering connections and collaboration among individuals with similar skills and interests, these communities can help to build a strong sense of community and support. 

For companies, talent communities also provide a valuable tool for attracting and retaining top talent, even in challenging times. Whether you are a job seeker or a hiring manager, joining or creating a talent community can be a smart investment in your future success.