In a world where work is constantly being reshaped by digital transformation, shifting demographics, and evolving values, candidates are now in the driver’s seat.
They control how the hiring market will be for YOU as they navigate the ocean of job opportunities more efficiently than ever before.
Sounds like a challenge? It’s not! You can easily stand out from competitors by turning your talent pool into a talent community and keep them coming back – again and again and again. All you need is a dash of stellar candidate experience! .
Dive into this article to discover how you can build strong talent communities and turn them into your key to unparalleled team growth.
What is a talent community?
A talent community is a dynamic and interactive space where potential candidates and recruiters can engage in a mutually beneficial relationship.
Unlike traditional recruitment methods, talent communities focus on building long-term connections and fostering an ongoing engagement between prospective employees and employers.
This approach creates a more human-centric and values-driven recruitment experience, which sets talent communities apart from other talent acquisition strategies.
Also, talent communities can take various forms, including digital networks, email newsletters, social media groups, or candidate databases, enabling candidates to connect with your company even when they aren’t actively applying for a role.
One unique aspect of talent communities is their emphasis on providing value to both parties. For candidates, talent communities offer opportunities for networking, skill development, and industry insights.
They serve as platforms where individuals can explore company culture, learn about potential career paths, and showcase their expertise.
For employers, talent communities allow them to stay connected with a diverse talent pool, identify candidates who align with their organizational values, and gain deeper insights into the skills and interests of potential hires.
Another distinct feature of talent communities is their adaptability. As the workforce and industry trends evolve, so do talent communities. They can be tailored to specific industries, job roles, or skill sets, enabling recruiters to attract and engage with the right talent for their unique needs.
Additionally, talent communities can be scaled up or down, depending on your hiring requirements, ensuring a continuous pipeline of engaged candidates.
Remember: While you may already have a talent community comprising individuals who have shown interest in your company, applied for jobs, or received job offers, the key to effectively leveraging this community lies in actively engaging and nurturing relationships with its members.
10 steps to building an engaged talent community
Step 1: Define your goals and objectives
Before you begin building your talent community, setting clear goals and objectives is essential.
Determine your primary goal of building a community, such as improving candidate engagement, reducing time-to-hire, or increasing the quality of hires.
A clear vision will help guide your strategy and ensure your talent community is aligned with your organization’s needs.
💡 Establish SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals to keep your talent community focused and results-driven.
Step 2: Identify your target audience
Understand what types of candidates you want to attract to your talent community. Consider factors such as industry, job roles, skill sets, experience levels, and cultural fit.
By defining your target audience, you will create a more focused and relevant community that appeals to the right candidates.
💡 Develop candidate personas to understand your target audience better and tailor your community to their interests and needs.
Who may be a part of your talent community?
- Candidates who showed great potential but weren’t fit for the roles you were hiring for
- Candidates who are interested in your company but there is no open role for their skills and interest
- Any applicant who cleared the interview process but didn’t accept the job offer in the past hiring cycle
- Active or passive referrals
Step 3: Choose the right platform and tools
Select the most suitable platform and tools to build and manage your talent community.
Options include professional networking sites like LinkedIn, specialized talent community platforms, or even custom-built solutions.
When choosing the platform, consider the required features and functionalities, such as communication, content sharing, event management, and analytics.
💡 Research and compare available platforms and tools, and choose one that best aligns with your goals, target audience, and budget.
Step 4: Source candidates from all directions
There are numerous ways to source potential candidates for your talent community, ensuring a diverse and robust network of professionals.
Begin with those you’ve already invested time and resources – past applicants and interviewees. You’re familiar with these individuals since you’ve assessed their qualifications and interacted with them.
Additionally, their contact information is readily available, and if you have an ATS, they’re already in your system.
However, your search shouldn’t end there. To further expand your talent community, consider the following strategies:
1. Email subscription: Add an email subscription option on your careers page, allowing interested candidates to join your talent community even if they don’t see a specific role that suits them.
💡 Promote the benefits of joining your talent community in the subscription call-to-action to pique interest.
2. Rejection letter: Soften the blow of rejection by inviting unsuccessful candidates to join your talent community for future opportunities.
💡 Ensure your rejection letter is well-crafted and empathetic, leaving a positive impression on candidates.
3. Career fairs & networking events: Forge in-person connections with potential candidates at career fairs and networking events to source talent effectively.
💡 Make a lasting impression at these events by showcasing your company culture and values. Appear as if you are the HOST.
4. Employee networks: Encourage employees to refer prospects and tap into their personal networks, as these connections may share similar interests and expertise.
💡 Implement a referral program to incentivize employees to contribute to your talent community.
5. Social platforms: Harness the power of LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to search for candidates based on interests and trending topics.
💡 Engage with potential candidates on social media and share relevant content to pique their interest in your company.
6. Past employees: Consider rehiring former employees and investing in employee alum networks to maintain connections with those who may return.
💡 Maintain good relationships with former employees, as they can become valuable brand ambassadors and referral sources.
7. Recent graduates: Target entry-level roles by connecting with recent college graduates, boot camps, and other certificate programs.
💡 Establish partnerships with educational institutions and attend campus recruitment events to source fresh talent.
8. Diversify sourcing: Identify areas of homogeneity in your organization and target diverse networks to attract candidates who may not otherwise discover your company or apply for open roles.
💡 Research and tap into diverse networks, such as professional organizations and affinity groups, to source underrepresented talent.
Remember, building a talent community shouldn’t overshadow direct candidate sourcing.
If managing your talent community becomes too time-consuming, refine your criteria and segment members by roles, interests, and experience.
It will ensure an optimized network and personalized content for each candidate.
Step 5: Develop a content strategy
Create a content strategy that provides value to your community members.
Share industry news, job openings, company updates, and educational resources that will engage and inform your audience.
Be consistent and plan your content calendar to ensure you’re regularly updating and nurturing the community.
💡 Plan a content calendar with various formats and topics, ensuring consistency and relevance to your audience.
Step 6: Promote your talent community
Use various channels to promote your talent community and attract new members.
Leverage social media, email marketing, your company website, and employee referrals to spread the word.
Attend industry events, contests, and conferences to network and invite potential candidates to join your community.
💡 Create a compelling value proposition highlighting the benefits of joining your talent community to attract and retain members.
Step 7: Foster engagement and collaboration
Encourage members to actively participate in the community by facilitating discussions, hosting webinars, and organizing events or workshops.
Create opportunities for members to network with each other, share their expertise, and collaborate on projects.
💡 Appoint community moderators or ambassadors to facilitate engagement, answer questions, and create a welcoming environment.
Step 8: Monitor and measure success
Regularly assess the performance of your talent community by tracking key metrics, such as membership growth, engagement rates, and hiring outcomes.
Use this data to refine your strategies, identify areas of improvement, and ensure your community meets its goals and objectives.
💡 Set up a reporting system to track relevant metrics and periodically review the impact of your talent community on your recruitment goals.
Step 9: Maintain and nurture relationships
Building a thriving talent community requires ongoing effort and commitment.
Keep in touch with members, solicit feedback, and be responsive to their needs.
By maintaining strong relationships and fostering a sense of belonging, you can ensure your talent community remains a valuable resource for your recruitment efforts.
💡 Implement a system for following up with community members, such as personalized emails or check-ins, to demonstrate that their participation is valued.
Step 10: Adapt and evolve
Your talent community should adapt and evolve as the recruitment landscape and industry trends change.
Assess your community’s relevance regularly, identify emerging trends, and adjust your strategies accordingly.
It will ensure your talent community remains an effective and powerful tool for attracting and retaining top talent.
💡 Stay informed about industry developments and best practices in talent community management, and be open to experimenting with new approaches to optimize your community’s performance.
5 best practices to manage an active talent community
So, you have a talent community now. Great job!
Now, it’s time to nurture and keep it active.
Here are some best practices for doing so:
1. Personalization is key
The more personalized your interactions, the stronger your connections with community members will be.
Use the information you have gathered on each candidate to tailor your communications, addressing them by name and offering content relevant to their interests and career aspirations.
💡 Quick tip: Segment your talent community based on factors like job roles, skill sets, or industries to ensure targeted and personalized content.
2. Encourage two-way communication
Talent communities shouldn’t be a one-way street. Instead, encourage members to ask questions, share their thoughts, and provide feedback.
This will help you build stronger relationships and better understand their needs and expectations.
💡 Quick tip: Schedule regular Q&A sessions, webinars, or virtual events to facilitate open dialogue and interaction within your community.
3. Recognize and celebrate member achievements
Recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of your community members can foster a sense of belonging and boost engagement.
Share their success stories, congratulate them on new jobs or promotions, and highlight their contributions to the community.
💡 Quick tip: Use a dedicated hashtag or create a monthly spotlight feature to recognize outstanding talent community members.
4. Be transparent and authentic
Transparency and authenticity are key to building trust within your talent community.
Be honest about your company’s culture, values, and expectations, and encourage open dialogue about successes and challenges.
💡 Quick tip: Share behind-the-scenes content, such as employee testimonials or office tours, to showcase your company culture.
5. Build exclusivity
Offer something exclusive to your community members to show your appreciation for them.
For example, you can offer members early access to job openings before posting publicly, giving them an advantage in the application process.
You can also invite members to events or webinars unavailable to the general public. These exclusive opportunities can help build loyalty and increase engagement within the community.
💡 Quick tip: Use a tiered membership system. Create different membership levels and offer different perks at each level.
For example, members who have been with the community for a long time or have contributed meaningfully can be offered more exclusive perks than new members.
It will encourage members to strive to move up to higher membership levels.
Avoiding the talent community blunders
An engaged talent community can do wonders for your recruitment efforts.
By building a network of talented professionals interested in your company and its opportunities, you can tap into a rich source of potential candidates and cultivate a strong employer brand.
However, launching and managing a talent community has its challenges.
Let’s discover the major talent community pitfalls and practical solutions to mitigate them.
Challenge #1: Candidate communication
How personalized are your outreach messages? Do you send the same messages to your media candidate and technology recruits? If so, you are missing out on an opportunity to grow your talent community.
Remember: A one-size-fits-all approach is simply ineffective when it comes to outreach messages. Candidates have different backgrounds, interests, and career goals, and they expect personalized communication that speaks to their specific needs and motivations.
So, to avoid this blunder, segmenting your candidate pool and tailoring your communication accordingly is essential.
Use data and analytics to understand your candidate personas and their preferences, and develop targeted messaging that speaks to their unique interests and career aspirations.
Also, communicate regularly with your talent community members.
Don’t just reach out when you have a job opening – keep them informed about your company’s news, events, and industry insights. It will help to build trust and keep you at top-of-their-mind when they’re ready to make a career move.
Challenge #2: Internal processes
When a client demands that you fill an open position in their company, your first instinct might be to put out a job advertisement on LinkedIn or other job boards. However, before you do that, you must assess your internal pipeline of candidates first.
Why? Because according to research, it takes approximately 42 days to fill an open position. That’s already a long time. So why would you increase that by finding a candidate from scratch when you can approach one from your database?
Remember: To effectively use your internal pipeline, you must have a strong relationship with your talent community. You must engage with your talents regularly, providing valuable content and opportunities for them to connect with you.
If you’ve been doing this, you can leverage your applicant tracking system (ATS) to track candidates who are a good fit for the open position and reach out to them directly.
It will improve your time-to-fill and increase the likelihood of success in finding the right candidate quickly.
Mind that it’s important to measure the loopholes and progress of your internal processes and make necessary changes regularly.
By continually refining your approach, you can improve your recruiting results and build a stronger talent community that will support your client’s hiring needs in the long run.
Challenge #3: Technology
If you’re still using spreadsheets and notes to track candidate information and relationships, you’re putting your talent database at risk of data loss and mismanagement. It can be a severe problem, given your talent community is one of your most essential commodities.
This is where a CRM system comes in!
Using a recruiting software to log all communication with candidates, you can ensure that all critical information is stored in a centralized space rather than on individual hard drives or disparate spreadsheets.
With a CRM, you can easily track a candidate’s experience, qualifications, and information, which allows you to stay on top of their career status and keep them engaged until an opportunity arises.
It helps to ensure that you have a steady stream of qualified candidates at your fingertips, saving time and resources when you need to fill an open position quickly.
Furthermore, the system allows every team member to search all candidates’ data in seconds, view a particular candidate’s profile, and review their history with your company.
This in-depth overview of each candidate helps your team better connect with the talent community, identify the right fit for open positions, and ultimately make the next great hire.
Looking for an ATS that fits your hiring needs? Recruit CRM may be your answer.
The future of talent communities
As talent communities evolve, their impact on hiring will become increasingly significant, streamlining how you find, engage, and retain top talent.
Here are some ways talent communities are expected to change over time and how they will influence recruiters:
Enhanced technology integration
Integrating AI, machine learning, and data analytics will enable you to identify and engage with potential candidates within talent communities.
These technologies will facilitate better candidate matching with organizational needs, improving hiring outcomes.
Virtual collaboration and networking
With the growing popularity of remote work and virtual collaboration tools, talent communities will increasingly rely on online platforms to foster connections, host events, and share opportunities.
It will enable you to tap into a more extensive, diverse talent pool, regardless of geographical constraints.
Continuous learning and development
Talent communities will become more sophisticated and increasingly focussed on continuous learning, enabling members to upskill and reskill regularly.
For recruiters, this means access to a constantly adapting and growing talent pool, ensuring they can find candidates with the most relevant and up-to-date skill sets.
In short, today or tomorrow, talent communities will only maximize your recruiting success.
So, start leveraging them now!
Key takeaways-
- Personalize your communication approach.
- Ensure your talent community grows with time.
- Start your candidate sourcing from your community.
- Don’t limit your engagement only to job opportunities.
- Make the time to know your candidates better.
- Use a CRM to track and engage with candidates regularly.
- Track your recruiting efforts and improvise.
- DROP THE EXCUSES! Build your talent community today.
Frequently asked questions-
1. Who needs a talent community?
Recruiters, HR professionals, hiring managers, and companies seeking to attract, engage, and retain top talent can benefit from building and maintaining a talent community.
But remember, talent communities are not for reactive recruitment. So, companies that hire to fill an immediate role may not have time to invest in building and nurturing a talent community.
2. What are the benefits of building a talent community?
Talent communities offer numerous benefits, including
- Access to a diverse talent pool
- Improved candidate engagement
- Stronger employer branding
- Shorter hiring cycles
- Increased retention rates
- Better insights into candidates’ skills, values, and cultural fit.
3. What are the signs that indicate I need to build a talent community?
If you notice any of the following signs, it may be time to consider building your talent community:
- High-volume hiring: If you frequently hire candidates for similar job roles or have recurring seasonal hiring needs, a talent community can help you maintain a steady flow of qualified candidates.
- Steady talent pipeline: If your company requires a continuous stream of talent to address employee turnover, fill new positions, or support business growth, a talent community can be a valuable resource.
- Specific skill set demand: If you hire for niche or specialized roles, a talent community can help you connect with professionals with the unique skill sets and expertise your company needs.
- Competitive market: If you operate in a competitive industry where top talent is in high demand, a talent community can give you an edge by establishing long-term relationships with potential candidates and fostering loyalty.
- Employer branding: To enhance your company’s reputation as an employer of choice, a talent community can showcase your company culture, values, and opportunities, attracting top talent.
- High recruitment costs: If your recruitment costs are continually increasing due to external agency fees, job board expenses, or inefficient hiring processes, a talent community can help reduce costs by streamlining talent acquisition and building a direct pipeline of engaged candidates.
- Passive candidates: If you want to recruit more passive candidates, a talent community can help you maintain a connection and keep them informed about relevant opportunities within your company.
4. What are some tools I can use to build a talent community?
Popular tools for building talent communities include professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, applicant tracking systems (ATS) with integrated community features, specialized talents community platforms such as TalentCircles or SmashFly, and social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, or Slack for engagement and communication.
Other tools that have recently been in talks for effective talent community building are Patreon, discord, tribe, and discourse. Try checking them out!
5. What are some popular talent communities I must be a part of?
Some popular talent communities include GitHub for developers, Dribbble for designers, Behance for creatives, Stack Overflow for programmers, and LinkedIn Groups for various industries and roles. Explore communities relevant to your industry, role, or niche to maximize your networking potential.
6. How can I ensure the success of my talent community?
To ensure the success of your talent community, set clear goals, regularly evaluate the community’s performance, adapt your strategies based on feedback and data, and invest in building long-term relationships with community members.
7. How does a talent community differ from a job board?
While job boards primarily focus on listing job vacancies, talent communities offer a more interactive and relationship-driven experience. They provide a platform for professionals to network, share knowledge, and engage with potential employers, ultimately fostering a sense of belonging and loyalty.
8. How can I measure the success of my talent community?
You can measure the success of your talent community through various metrics, such as membership growth, engagement rates, the number of successful hires, quality of candidate referrals, improvements in time-to-hire, and overall satisfaction among community members.
9. How do talent communities improve the candidate experience?
Talent communities enhance the candidate experience by providing personalized engagement, fostering a sense of belonging, offering valuable resources and opportunities for learning, and showcasing the organization’s culture and values. It creates a more transparent and authentic recruitment process, ultimately leading to better hiring outcomes.
