How to build your candidate pool in a competitive marketplace

Recruitment agencies, by their very nature, cannot survive without a large and diverse pool of candidates to source from when filling key available positions.

The more high-quality candidates you have on your database, the more options you will have when it comes to identifying the right individual to meet a particular client's needs and requirements. 

Here are two key suggestions for attracting and maintaining strong candidates, even in a competitive recruitment marketplace. 

Maximise your website 

Over the last decade, the internet has grown in prominence to become a critical tool for jobseekers. In fact, a 2011 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 56 per cent of internet users see the World Wide Web as a method of searching for information about a new job. 

Your recruitment organisation can look to capitalise on this by ensuring you have an optimised web interface that is capable of attracting enquiries from prime candidates.

Keep in mind that many individuals today are time-poor and unwilling to spend long, unproductive hours on the phone or in face-to-face meetings registering with recruitment companies.

A strong web portal can provide these candidates with the means of registering directly with your recruitment agency online, providing all of their personal and professional details in a secure manner. 

Build long-term relationships 

Often, recruitment agencies will focus on client relationships over candidate relationships, believing that one is more important than the other when it comes to achieving long-term success.

However, the fact of the matter is that it will be impossible to maintain and grow strong relationships with clients if you do not have the faith and support of your existing candidates as well.

For that reason, it's often worthwhile investing in recruitment software that is designed to deliver a high-quality service to candidates, ensuring they are matched to the right job quickly and easily. 

Remember also that the candidates of today may become the clients of tomorrow, so underestimating the value of your relationship with these individuals is a critical mistake indeed.