Hiring Frenemies: Sourcing and Recruitment's Never-Ending BFF Feud

General | 27 Apr 2023

Ah, the eternal squabble between the sourcing team and recruitment team. It's a tale as old as time, a song as old as rhyme. Ok, maybe it's not that dramatic, but it's certainly a common source of tension in many organizations.

In the blue corner, you have the sourcing team, the detective squad of the hiring process, tasked with finding and attracting potential candidates. They can be found glued to their computer screens, scouring all possible sourcing channels to identify people who may be a good fit for open positions. And just like detectives, they have to be meticulous in their work to ensure that no candidate goes unnoticed. They often work closely with the recruitment team to develop job descriptions and other materials that will help attract the right candidates.

In the red corner, you have the recruitment team, the gatekeepers of the hiring process, responsible for actually interviewing and hiring those candidates. They rely on the sourcing team to provide a steady stream of qualified applicants, but they also have to deal with the challenges of negotiating offers, onboarding new hires, and managing the overall hiring process. It's a high-pressure job, as they have to make sure that they're hiring the best candidates for the company while also keeping a close eye on the bottom line. And let's not forget that they have to navigate the often-delicate task of turning down candidates who aren't quite the right fit.

So why do these two teams so often find themselves at odds? Here are a few common reasons:

Communication breakdowns: Without clear communication channels, the sourcing team may not fully understand what the recruitment team is looking for in a candidate, leading to a flood of unqualified applicants. Meanwhile, the recruitment team may not provide enough feedback to the sourcing team about what's working and what's not, leaving them to guess at the best approach.

Differing priorities: The sourcing team may be more focused on filling the top of the funnel with as many potential candidates as possible, while the recruitment team may be more concerned with making sure those candidates are a good fit for the role and the company culture.

Limited resources: Both teams are often stretched thin, with limited time and budget to devote to their respective tasks. This can lead to frustration as each team tries to make the most of the resources they have.

So, what can be done to address these issues and bring peace to the Sourcing vs Recruitment battlefield? Here are a few suggestions:

Foster open communication: Make sure both teams have a clear understanding of what the other is doing and what their goals are. Regular check-ins and status updates can help keep everyone on the same page.

Clarify roles and responsibilities: Make sure each team understands what their specific role is in the hiring process, and where their responsibilities begin and end. This can help prevent turf wars and make it easier to assign tasks and responsibilities.

Provide adequate resources: Make sure both teams have the tools and resources they need to do their jobs effectively. This may mean investing in new technology, hiring additional staff, or providing training and professional development opportunities.

Encourage collaboration: Instead of working in silos, encourage both teams to collaborate and work together. This may mean co-creating job descriptions, sharing candidate feedback, or brainstorming new sourcing strategies.