Ready to work: How to find the right Curation partner for your Direct Sourcing program
A successful Direct Sourcing strategy is like an ecosystem. In order for your program to thrive, each moving part needs to work smoothly and efficiently.
Which is why every decision matters when building that ecosystem. Especially when it comes to Curation.
Finding the right Curation Partner can be the difference between strong, engaged candidates and a lukewarm talent community.
We look at what you should be asking before making your choice:
1) Do you have experience?
No one can be an expert in every field. When identifying curation options, it’s important to check their industry knowledge and experience. While many claim to have a wide-range of expertise, it’s helpful to pinpoint partners who have worked with similar clients.
You’ll also want to keep in mind which skill sets you want to hire for. For example, let’s say you’re an airline manufacturer hiring for light industrial skill sets like assembly line technicians and quality control inspectors. You’ve narrowed your search down to two companies:
- A small firm specializing in light industrial skill sets, or
- A large, very successful firm known for their success in supporting BI, Data, and analytics skill sets.
While the large firm may seem like a safer bet, the smaller partner likely has the industry knowledge needed to build successful talent pipelines that align with your business needs.
In order to make sure your partner has a proven track record that meets your company’s goals, it’s important to review their client portfolio and ask for references.
2) Is the cost worth the quality?
In a perfect world, the best curation option would also be the cheapest. In reality, quality curation is an investment, and cheap doesn’t usually mean effective. That doesn’t mean you should opt for the most expensive partner either. When looking for the right fit, it’s important to balance cost-effectiveness with efficiency to maximize ROI.
To create the right balance, it helps to outline your expectations and business goals before choosing a vendor.
For example, if you’re a company that needs a passive approach, where Curators aren’t actively looking for talent, you can likely choose a less costly option. On the other hand, if your business needs more of a white glove approach, where curators engage with talent to find top candidates, you may need more of an investment.
Regardless of which option you use, curation firms are more cost effective than opting for a staffing supplier base vendor. In fact, companies who create a Direct Sourcing strategy with talent acquisition software see a 15% overall cost savings on average.
3) Do you have the resources to support us?
Before choosing a Curation option, ensure they’re willing to invest time in your Direct Sourcing strategy.
A strong partner should have a solid resourcing plan. If they’re unable to provide enough staff to support your business needs, it could affect your program’s success.
Typically, you might see two types of Curation firms:
- Option 1: Those that start with few resources with plans to ramp up support later in the program. While this option may be less costly, they’ll likely provide a different level of service than those with a strong team from day one.
- Option 2: Curators with many resources available from the beginning. While this option is often more costly, they’re more likely to provide a higher level of service and support during the onboarding and implementation process.
Some companies require an on-site presence for a more seamless operational experience. In this case, it’s vital to make sure your partner has a local office and can meet in person when needed.
4) How do you ensure operational effectiveness?
This is where you figure out exactly which steps your curation partner will take to meet your business needs. A strong Curation Partner should track:
- Success indicators like time to fill rates, placement success, and talent pool growth
- Implementation metrics such as setup speed and deployment timelines
- Project tracking to ensure deadlines are met and major milestones are tracked
- Communication indicators, like Monthly Business Reviews (MBRs) and and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR)
- Recruitment metrics and placement success, such as talent pool creation, job posting activity, and candidate recruitment stats
Look at firms with a clear strategy for delivery success with KPIs in place for each step of their curation plan. Questions to ask include:
- Do you have a solid implementation plan?
- How do you track projects?
- How do you ensure clear communication and how often will you meet with our team?
- How do you track and share metrics and important information?
5) Can you build an engaged Talent Community with the Curation partner?
Talent Communities aren’t born, they’re made. Creating a successful community filled with experienced candidates takes time, expert communication and marketing that leverages your company’s natural brand power. Before choosing a curation partner, ask the following questions:
- Are you partnered with a strong Direct Sourcing tech platform? TalentNet’s platform, for example, includes
- Communication templates and text/email capabilities,
- AI-driven candidate matching, allowing workers to join a talent community and apply for a job in 60 seconds,
- Features like TalentNavigator, a tool powered by generative AI that lets curators search and manage talent pools, retrieve and analyze candidate data, and automate manual tasks.
- Are your Curators able to easily integrate into our team? This allows third parties to market your company while creating positive candidate experiences.
- Which Direct Sourcing best practices do your Curators recommend? Top curation firms follow industry-leading guidelines, allowing for a more robust talent acquisition program.
Building a Direct Sourcing ecosystem with the right Curation partner
Curation is an essential part of any successful Direct Sourcing strategy. Effective curation leads to better candidates, engaged communities, and faster time to hire rates. When choosing a partner, make sure to evaluate your business goals, their industry experience, and whether there’s a cost-value balance.
As the originators of Direct Sourcing, TalentNet partners with industry-leading curators. To learn more about building successful Direct Sourcing programs, reach out to TalentNet’s team here.