10 Best Places to Source Sales Candidates for Sales recruiters

If you’re in recruiting, then you understand the challenges of candidate sourcing. You often feel limited on where and how you can find some really great sales recruiters talent. You understand that the job boards often overwhelm you with underwhelming resumes, and that you’ve exhausted every resource to hunt for new candidates. You need time, money, and resources to help you find and sales recruit top sales talent.

You might know some the more well-known places to source sales recruiters candidates, but we curated a list to give you some fresh new ideas on how and where to recruit sales professionals. Some of these sources are paid resources, while some are “free”…but then again what is free?

Here are 10 outside the box tactics to source more sales candidates.

{Get Even More! Download 22 Places to Source Candidates>>}

1. ATS/Database

As a recruiter and hiring manager you are constantly talking to candidates. Your database has really built up over the years. Rather than always focusing on “new” candidates, source existing candidates through your own Applicant Tracking System. You should probably kick off each new search going through who you already know. You should be keeping notes each time you talk to someone and have a clear picture of who they are and what they are looking for so that when the right opportunity comes up, you’re calling them first.

2. LinkedIn

If you’re not on LinkedIn, it’s time to rethink your recruiting strategy. LinkedIn continues to be one of the largest online professional communities. You should consistently be growing your professional network. The more people you connect with and build relationships with, the greater your reach.

Some tips to use LinkedIn for sourcing:

• Share the jobs you’re hiring for, along with links about your company and culture (videos, pictures, blogs)
• Use the Search bar at the top of the page to search for candidates with a certain title, location, or company.
• When you are looking at a candidate’s profile, LinkedIn will also suggest other LinkedIn members based on similar backgrounds. Make sure you use that too.
• Join different groups. Once part of the group you can search members, and choose to connect with them.

If you are a LinkedIn premium user, you will have greater Search capability and will also be able to send more messages and InMails to candidates.

*Make sure you personalize each message with everyone you connect with.

3. Data.com Connect

Like their website says, “Give one, get one FREE.” Data.com Connect enables you to grow your contact list. Their free plan gives you the ability to find contacts when you give a contact. You can also search company directories. If you’re looking for candidates who come from a competitor, you can use Data.com Connect to find candidates who could potentially be a fit for your opportunity.

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4. Job Boards

Yes, we’re stating the obvious and probably the first go-to place to advertise your company’s open sales jobs. Job boards are by no means the best way to recruit passive sales talent, but it is a way to brand your job and promote the opportunity. There are popular job boards like Monster, Career Builder, Simply Hired, The Ladders, Snag a Job, and ZipRecruiter, to name a few. Some are free and some a paid. Don’t assume that the pay-to-post approach means the perfect candidate will apply. You will still need to review each resume, set up a phone screen with candidates to determine if they are a fit.

Consider using some niche job boards to promote to a sales-specific community.

5. Former Employees

Chances are you have had some pretty great people who have worked at your company of the years. Even if they have moved on to another opportunity, they are still a great resource for referrals. Send a former employee an email, or call them to see if they know anyone who is looking for a new sales opportunity.

{Related Article: Attracting New Business, Who’s Referring Your Company?}

6. Attend Conferences

Over the course of your career, you will be attending conferences within your industry. This is a great way to build your network. Yes, you are there to learn and absorb as much information as you can, but take the time to introduce yourself to the people around you. If you are there with colleagues, branch out. Go to different sessions and meet new people. Expand your social niche. Remember to grab business cards. After the conference, send emails and LinkedIn connects to say how much you enjoyed meeting them. If you really liked someone ask them if they are looking for an opportunity or if they can recommend someone who is looking. Understand the power of a building a professional network.

Check out: Sales 2.0, Sales Hacker, Dreamforce, INBOUND

7. Recruiting Firms

Recruiting firms are a great way to meet qualified sales candidates. You will spend less time searching and more time interviewing A-Player candidates. Don’t just choose any recruiting firm for your sales hiring needs. Work with a recruiting firm who will take the time to work with you and introduce the right fit for your organization. Partner with a staffing firm that:

• Specializes solely in sales recruiting
• Has years of expertise and success in the industry
• Offers sales hiring solutions for every search and budget
• Provides recruiting software to make managing the process 100x easier
• Gets the job done, with deliverable results

See how Treeline can help you recruit sales professionals.

8. Quora

If you’re not familiar with Quora, it’s a Q&A platform to help answer any and all questions. Many people are on this platform asking questions all sorts of professional questions. They are looking for best advice and tips, many related to a job search and sales career. Position yourself as an industry expert and browse for the questions and answers of industry experts who might be interested in a new sales opportunity.

9. Sponsor a Conference/Tradeshow

Having your company be a sponsor at a conference or tradeshow relative to your industry is a great way to source for new candidates. You know that there are people knowledgeable and interested in your company, services, and products, so they could be qualified for your sales job (ideal audience). Make sure you collect business cards. You may be there to gain new customers, but why not try to gain new employees? And as a corporate sponsor, you typically receive contact information of all the attendees of the event. When you send your email thanking people for stopping by your booth, let them know you are hiring too.

Check out: AA-ISP, InsideSales.com

10. Google/Bing Ads

Similar to job boards, you can capture candidate’s attention with a strong and compelling advertisement. This will boost your company’s brand and visibility, but remember posting a job doesn’t guarantee qualified sales candidates. Partner with your marketing team and think of creative ways you can promote your company and open sales jobs to drive candidates to apply.

{Bonus! Get 12 More Exclusive Sourcing Tactics HERE!}

Recruiting great salespeople is essential for growth. You need strong, talented, intelligent, and passionate people to join your company. Unfortunately, this is no easy task and can hardly be accomplished by glancing over a resume. Hopefully these sourcing tips help you drive more engagement and awareness, but there is no shortcut. Get creative, test new ideas, and build and inbound and outbound recruiting strategy.