What Does a Sourcing Specialist Do?
A sourcer plays a critical role in the recruitment process by identifying, researching, and engaging potential candidates, often before those individuals are actively seeking a new role. This front-line recruiting specialist focuses on building strong talent pipelines through targeted search techniques, passive candidate outreach, and collaboration with recruiters and hiring managers.
Sourcers are responsible for using digital tools, data insights, and sourcing strategies to attract talent in competitive or hard-to-fill markets. They build long-term relationships with candidates, create talent maps, and generate interest in open roles, laying the groundwork for successful hires.
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Sourcer Core Responsibilities
- Proactively identify and engage potential candidates across multiple platforms (LinkedIn, job boards, networks)
- Use Boolean search and sourcing tools to find candidates that align with job requirements
- Partner with recruiters and hiring managers to understand job specifications and candidate personas
- Build and maintain talent pipelines for both immediate and future hiring needs
- Craft personalized outreach messages and follow-up communications
- Track candidate engagement and update sourcing activity in the ATS/CRM
- Stay current with sourcing trends, tools, and best practices
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Proficiency with sourcing tools such as LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean search, and talent CRMs
- Experience working in an ATS (e.g., Greenhouse, iCIMS, Lever)
- Ability to interpret job descriptions and translate them into search strategies
- Strong research skills and familiarity with market intelligence tools
- Knowledge of diversity sourcing strategies and candidate outreach best practices
Soft skills
- Curiosity and investigative mindset
- Strong written communication for outreach messaging
- Time management and organizational skills
- Collaborative approach to working with recruiters and hiring managers
- Persistence and creativity in candidate engagement
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Communications, Business, or a related field
Sourcer Preferred Qualifications
- Experience sourcing for technical or executive roles
- Familiarity with recruitment marketing platforms and email engagement tools (e.g., Gem, SeekOut)
- Understanding of employer branding and its impact on outreach effectiveness
National Average Salary
Sourcing specialist salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Position is:
$123,456
Sourcing Specialist Job Descriptions
It’s important to include the right content in your job description when hiring a sourcing specialist. The following examples can serve as templates for attracting the best available talent for your team.
Example 1: Technical Sourcer
We’re hiring a Technical Sourcer to identify and engage top-tier technical talent for engineering, IT, and product roles. You’ll utilize research-driven sourcing methods to identify passive candidates who can drive innovation and deliver high-impact solutions for our clients and teams.
Responsibilities
- Source and screen candidates for software development, DevOps, data, and technical infrastructure roles
- Use GitHub, Stack Overflow, LinkedIn, and other tech platforms to uncover hidden talent
- Collaborate with technical recruiters and hiring managers to define ideal candidate profiles
- Build and maintain candidate pipelines for current and future technical openings
- Craft compelling outreach messages tailored to technical audiences
- Track sourcing activity and response metrics within the ATS/CRM
- Stay current on tech industry trends, tools, and sourcing techniques
Requirements
Hard skills
- Experience sourcing for technical roles in engineering, IT, or product
- Proficiency with Boolean search, LinkedIn Recruiter, and niche sourcing platforms
- Familiarity with ATS systems and CRM tools
- Understanding of technical skill sets (e.g., languages, frameworks, system architecture)
- Research ability across platforms like GitHub, Reddit, and Hacker News
Soft skills
- Curiosity and adaptability in fast-changing tech environments
- Strong written communication for personalized outreach
- Ability to prioritize multiple roles and deadlines
- Collaborative mindset with recruiting and hiring teams
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Computer Science, or related field
Preferred qualifications
- Experience sourcing for hard-to-fill or senior-level engineering roles
- Exposure to diversity sourcing in tech or startup environments
Example 2: Executive Sourcer
We’re looking for an Executive Sourcer to identify and engage senior leadership talent for C-suite and VP-level searches. This highly strategic role works closely with recruiters, internal stakeholders, and sometimes board members to discreetly attract proven leaders in key industries.
Responsibilities
- Partner with executive recruiters to define candidate profiles for senior leadership roles
- Conduct deep talent mapping and research within targeted industries and companies
- Craft personalized, confidential outreach to passive executive candidates
- Build long-term relationships with prospective leadership talent
- Maintain accurate documentation of sourcing activity and candidate engagement
- Present high-quality profiles with detailed candidate summaries to recruiters and executives
- Support diversity and inclusion initiatives across executive pipelines
Requirements
Hard skills
- Experience sourcing Director, VP, or C-level candidates
- Strong research and market intelligence capabilities
- Familiarity with executive search tools and platforms
- Ability to build candidate briefs and executive summaries
- Knowledge of leadership competencies across functions (finance, operations, tech, etc.)
Soft skills
- Professionalism and discretion with confidential information
- Persuasive written and verbal communication skills
- Strategic thinking and stakeholder management
- Strong judgment and attention to nuance
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, or related field
Preferred qualifications
- Experience supporting retained search firms or enterprise executive hiring
- Familiarity with leadership assessment frameworks or succession planning tools
Example 3: Healthcare Talent Sourcer
We’re seeking a Healthcare Talent Sourcer to help build qualified candidate pipelines for clinical and non-clinical healthcare roles. You’ll source talent across a wide variety of specialties, ensuring timely delivery in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities
- Source candidates for healthcare roles including RNs, medical coders, HIM specialists, and administrators
- Use job boards, databases, and professional associations to identify licensed professionals
- Partner with recruiters to understand role requirements and regional licensure needs
- Maintain accurate talent pipelines across multiple specialties and locations
- Engage candidates via email, phone, and text with tailored messaging
- Document sourcing activity, licensure status, and communication history in ATS
Requirements
Hard skills
- Experience sourcing in healthcare staffing or hospital systems
- Knowledge of licensure, credentialing, and healthcare certifications
- Familiarity with sourcing tools and healthcare job boards
- Ability to filter candidates by specialty, location, and credentials
- Proficiency with ATS and CRM platforms
Soft skills
- Organizational skills to manage high-volume sourcing
- Empathy and tact in candidate communications
- Attention to compliance and documentation
- Flexibility across changing staffing needs
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration, HR, or related field
Preferred qualifications
- Experience sourcing multi-state roles and working with travel healthcare providers
- Familiarity with credential verification platforms or compliance tools
Example 4: Sales Talent Sourcer
We’re hiring a Sales Talent Sourcer to uncover and engage high-performing sales professionals for roles ranging from SDRs to Sales Directors. You’ll focus on sourcing candidates with strong track records, persuasive communication, and a results-driven mindset.
Responsibilities
- Source candidates for B2B, SaaS, inside sales, and field sales roles
- Identify top talent using LinkedIn, CRM databases, referrals, and performance indicators
- Craft tailored outreach highlighting value propositions and role appeal
- Screen for quotas, KPIs, and performance metrics to qualify candidates
- Collaborate with recruiters and hiring managers to prioritize open roles
- Maintain candidate pipelines segmented by territory, vertical, and sales stage
- Track engagement and optimize outreach campaigns
Requirements
Hard skills
- Experience sourcing sales professionals in high-volume or niche markets
- Familiarity with sales performance metrics and candidate evaluation techniques
- Proficiency in CRM/ATS systems and sourcing platforms
- Understanding of different sales methodologies and roles (e.g., hunter vs. farmer)
- Knowledge of compensation models and incentive structures
Soft skills
- Persuasive writing and outreach communication
- Strong judgment in evaluating intangible candidate traits (e.g., grit, competitiveness)
- Ability to manage multiple pipelines and shifting priorities
- Collaboration with recruiters and hiring managers
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field
Preferred qualifications
- Experience sourcing in SaaS, enterprise sales, or high-growth environments
- Familiarity with tools like Outreach.io, Gem, or SeekOut