A candidate pipeline provides a continuous supply of high-quality, interested external job candidates, and people sometimes call a candidate pipeline a recruiting network. It can help your company fill critical positions faster, reduce recruiting costs, and choose the best applicants. Here's some more information about how to use a resume database to build your candidate pipeline and the benefits of a candidate pipeline for business owners or managers.
How to use a resume database to build your candidate pipeline
An external resume database should be a critical part of your company's candidate pipeline strategy. You can use it to proactively search for candidates with the skills and backgrounds you need, and you can rank and categorize them according to their qualifications and suitability for different positions. That way, when a position opens, you can easily contact the most qualified candidates first. You can also update and keep track of qualifications and contact information easily. Resume databases work best for roles with specific, advanced requirements that tend to open often.
You can use CareerBuilder's resume database to find good employees. It contains more than 90 million candidates, and you can apply Boolean search techniques to search for the best people. A Boolean search uses operators to refine search terms. For example, you can put quotes around a phrase to make sure it appears in all search results. You can also use AND to look for two terms at once or NOT to exclude results with certain terms. You can also request regular, automated searches to get information about the newest candidates. You'll get regular emails with the results.
A resume database lets you keep thorough records of your talent network members and previous job applicants available to you. You can ask the most qualified people to apply for a promotion when a position opens. You can also choose the best team member or team members to take care of the tasks involved in a job until you find someone to fill it.
Application tracking systems (ATS) and candidate relationship management (CRM) software can help you use your CareerBuilder resume database to keep your candidate pipeline in good shape and identify the best applicants. You can search for the people who applied for a position the last time it was open and the people who contacted recruiters most recently.
Key benefits of using a resume database to build a candidate pipeline
The ability to hire someone quickly or take your time
When a position opens up, you can start contacting the best candidates right away instead of waiting for new applications. When you don't have an immediate hiring need, you can take the time to get to know the candidates in your candidate pipeline better and identify the most talented people. That way, you can avoid making a hasty decision and hiring someone who doesn't have all of the skills and qualifications your company is looking for.
Your company can also keep a position open for the most exceptional candidates who already have jobs with other organizations. When they decide to start looking again, you can offer them a job immediately, keeping competitors from recruiting these candidates instead.
Avoiding bad hires and turnover
You can also have longer discussions and interviews with candidates. They can learn more about the work environment and the benefits of the position, and they can tell you about their expectations. You can make sure their personality fits well with the rest of the team, lower turnover, and avoid bad hires.
"When a position opens up, you can start contacting the best candidates right away instead of waiting for new applications. When you don't have an immediate hiring need, you can take the time to get to know the candidates in your candidate pipeline better and identify the most talented people."
Access to temporary workers and independent contractors
If a regular employee decides to take a vacation or needs to take a break from work because of health issues, you can replace them with a temporary worker or independent contractor in many circumstances. That way, full-time workers can get breaks when needed without making your business understaffed. Using a resume database to choose temporary workers also helps ensure that the people you hire are qualified and experienced.
By building your candidate pipeline with a resume database, you can make your company's hiring process more efficient and find the best candidates. You can also get a substantial advantage over competitors by searching for the best candidates you want and hiring the best employees available.
Related reading for hiring more talent:
Here are some ways you can prevent hiring the wrong person.
Semantic search technology uses context and specific search commands to provide more accurate search results.
The right CRM software can make re-engaging prior applicants and inviting them to interviews easy.
Here's some additional information about Boolean and semantic searches.
Small businesses can reach hard-to-find candidates in many ways.
You can use a resume database to look for candidates who were recently laid off and avoid people who were fired for cause.
