What it means
Candidate sourcing is the practical recruiting workflow for identifying, researching, organizing, and contacting potential candidates. It can include searching databases, professional networks, referrals, past applicants, talent communities, public profiles, and internal employee data where appropriate.
Why buyers should care
Sourcing quality affects pipeline coverage, diversity, recruiter productivity, and candidate response rates. A large database is not enough. Buyers need relevant search, current data, clear outreach controls, deduplication, privacy handling, and a clean handoff into CRM or ATS workflows.
Evaluation checks
Review data sources, refresh frequency, search filters, enrichment quality, opt-out support, email sequencing, duplicate detection, and recruiter collaboration. Buyers should check whether prospects can be tagged, nurtured, and moved into active roles without losing context. For AI-assisted sourcing, ask how candidates are selected, how recommendations are explained, and how recruiters can correct or exclude poor matches.
This glossary entry is buyer-oriented guidance, not legal, compliance, or financial advice.