Candidate Sourcing Strategies: 113 Creative Ideas to Try

Finding qualified employees has never been easy, but in today’s competitive hiring market—especially in blue-collar industries—it’s even more challenging. Traditional sourcing strategies in recruitment often rely on job boards and referrals, but with a shrinking talent pool, companies need to think outside the box to find top candidates.

That’s where a strong talent sourcing strategy comes in. By using a mix of candidate sourcing channels, businesses can expand their reach, connect with passive candidates, and build a steady pipeline of skilled workers. The best candidate sourcing strategies don’t just focus on filling current openings—they create a long-term approach to finding candidates who align with company culture and job requirements.

But finding the right talent takes more than just using the right channels. To stand out, companies need creative ways to recruit employees that make an impression on potential hires. Whether it’s tapping into local community networks, leveraging social media, or optimizing your website as a candidate sourcing tool, thinking outside the traditional recruiting box can help you attract the right people faster.

To help you improve your recruitment sourcing strategy, we’ve compiled a massive list of candidate sourcing ideas—113 of them, to be exact! Many of these sourcing strategies are completely free or low-cost, while others require a modest investment. From innovative recruitment methods to tried-and-true techniques, you’ll find dozens of ways to source candidates and build a stronger workforce.

No matter the size of your company or budget, these sourcing examples will help you expand your reach and attract great employees. Scroll down to start discovering new, effective ways to find talent and fill your open roles faster!

Free & Low-Cost Methods

Finding candidates doesn’t have to strain your budget. There are plenty of effective, low-cost talent sourcing strategies that help you connect with job seekers without breaking the bank. From optimizing your online presence to leveraging word-of-mouth, these methods will help you build a strong candidate pipeline without extra expenses.

On the Company Website

Your website isn’t just for customers—it’s also a powerful candidate sourcing tool. By optimizing your careers page and showcasing what makes your company a great place to work, you can attract job seekers who are actively looking for new opportunities. A strong online presence can turn your website into a valuable recruitment sourcing strategy.

1. Add a careers page to your company website

2. Add a hiring banner to your website homepage

3. Write a blog post about the benefits of working for your company

4. Publish cheat sheets or checklists on your website for people who might be interested in a career in your industry and collect their email address to download it

On Social Media

Social media is one of the most versatile candidate sourcing channels available. Whether you’re engaging with passive candidate sourcing on LinkedIn, sharing job openings on Instagram, or building a brand presence on TikTok, social platforms provide creative ways to recruit employees and showcase your company culture.

5. Film your own recruiting video and share it everywhere

6. Search for people on Reddit by location or trade/industry

7. Update all your social media bios to include info about open positions

8. Share that you’re hiring in social media posts

9. Change your social media banners/cover photos to a custom graphic that says “We’re Hiring” and update the “call to action” buttons

10. Brag about your top employees on social media to boost your company culture and attract candidates organically

11. Interview your employees on Facebook Live

12. Share Facebook and Instagram Stories of your employees talking about what it’s like to work for your company

13. Create a TikTok account and post videos showcasing your company culture and job openings

14. Host an “Ask Me Anything”/Q&A on Facebook Live or YouTube Live about what it’s like to work at your company

15. Create a YouTube channel sharing information about getting started in your field to attract interested candidates

16. Join local Facebook groups and share that you’re hiring

17. Join job-seeker Facebook groups and share that you’re hiring

18. Join Facebook groups related to your trade/industry and share that you’re hiring

19. Search on LinkedIn by occupation and then send a connection request and personal message to potential passive candidates

20. Search on Instagram by hashtag related to your industry and then follow and send a DM to potential passive candidates

Customer Referrals

Your customers can be one of your best candidate sources. A well-placed referral from a satisfied customer can introduce you to skilled workers who may not be actively looking for a job but would be open to the right opportunity. Simple outreach can turn your loyal customers into valuable recruiting partners.

21. Send a newsletter to your customer email list outlining your open positions

22. Send a text to your customer list announcing that you’re hiring & linking to your careers page

23. Leave a hiring flyer with every happy customer to share with friends or family

24. Offer a discount to customers who bring you applicants

Employee Referrals

25. Start an employee referral program and always ask new hires for referrals

26. Promote from within

27. Cross-train your employees in different roles/departments

28. Generate more employee referrals by creating a point system and “gamify” your employee referral program for more engagement

29. Promote someone in-house to the position of “recruiter” and task them with year-round outreach

>> WATCH: How to get more out of your employee referral program

Existing Candidate Pool

30. Revisit old resumes from past applicants

31. Contact ex-employees that you would like to rehire

Around Town

Candidate sourcing doesn’t always require digital tools—sometimes, the best approach is to get out into the community. From trade unions to local networking events, there are plenty of places to connect with skilled professionals. These sourcing examples show that traditional, in-person methods can still deliver great results.

32. Pass out business cards and job applications at supply houses

33. Wear your company’s branded gear everywhere

34. Attend local networking events and bring applications

35. Leave a hiring flyer on your competitor's truck windshields

36. Hang out in hardware stores and give a hiring flyer to anyone who seems competent with tools

37. Put up hiring flyers around town with a text-to-apply call to action

38. Get referrals from your local BNI group

39. Contact local trade unions

40. Look on Thumbtack or TaskRabbit for people offering handyman services or other services related to your industry and contact them

"We're Hiring" Signage

Sometimes, a simple sign is all it takes to attract the right talent. Whether it’s a job site banner, a branded vehicle magnet, or a hiring flyer at a local supply house, visible signage is an easy and cost-effective way to source candidates who are already in your industry and community.

41. Stock up on branded “We’re Hiring” yard signs to leave in every customer’s yard

42. Get a custom “We’re Hiring” magnet and place it on all your company vehicles

43. Add a hiring call-to-action on the back of your business card design and get new ones printed for all employees to hand out

44. Print door hangers and have employees hang them on neighboring doors while at residential job sites

45. Hang a vinyl "We're Hiring" banner on all your big job sites

Generate Media Coverage

Local media can be an untapped candidate sourcing channel for many businesses. Appearing on radio shows, podcasts, and news segments allows you to share your company’s hiring needs with a wider audience. A little media exposure can go a long way in finding candidates.

46. Offer to be a guest expert on local podcasts and discuss hiring

47. Offer to be a guest expert on local radio shows and discuss hiring

48. Contact your local newspaper/news channel to be a source on segments regarding labor shortages or other employment issues

49. Partner with local influencers to get the word out

50. Write an article for any relevant trade journals to get more exposure

51. Write a guest blog for any relevant websites in your industry for more exposure

Host Events

Hosting in-person or virtual events can help you meet potential hires in a more personal and engaging way. Whether it’s an open house, a job fair, or a DIY workshop, events create opportunities to connect with job seekers and showcase your company as a great place for sourcing talents.

52. Host a charity event or volunteer day to showcase your company's values and attract candidates who share those values

53. Hold monthly open houses & invite anyone with a resume to apply, interview, & get hired on the same day

54. Host a "speed networking" event where job seekers can meet with hiring managers for brief interviews

55. Host an online or in-person DIY workshop and recruit anyone who has a knack for what you’re teaching

Partner with Schools

Schools, colleges, and trade programs are filled with eager, job-ready candidates looking for the right opportunity. Partnering with educational institutions is a great way to build a sustainable talent sourcing strategy while giving students a direct path into your industry.

56. Contact your local college/university career center

57. Post hiring ads on local college/university job boards

58. Contact local high school skills centers

59. Contact local trade schools

60. Sponsor local high school sports/theater/clubs, etc. and put a hiring ad on their programs, flyers, brochures, etc.

Partner with Organizations Supporting Minority & Disadvantaged Groups

Expanding your sourcing strategy to include underrepresented communities can unlock new pools of skilled talent. Partnering with veteran organizations, reentry programs, and diversity-focused groups can help you connect with job seekers who are actively finding talent opportunities.

61. Contact local veteran organizations

62. Contact local women or diversity organizations

63. Contact local reentry programs that specialize in helping people with a criminal history find work

64. Connect with local non-profits that specialize in helping people get back to work

Watch our full presentation on Untapped Talent Pools >>

Partner With Vendors, Suppliers & Non-Competitors

Your business partners can also be a valuable source of referrals. Vendors, suppliers, and non-competing businesses in related industries can introduce you to skilled workers looking for new opportunities. Building relationships in your industry is an easy way to expand your candidate sourcing network.

65. Contact your suppliers or vendors to spread the word for you

66. Create relationships for referrals with non-competitors in complementary trades/industries

67. Contact local general contractors and tell them about your open positions

Leverage Job Boards

Job boards shouldn't be your only source of candidates, but they still remain a staple of any recruitment sourcing strategy. From general platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn to industry-specific sites, posting your openings where job seekers are already searching increases your chances of finding candidates quickly and efficiently.

68. Post your job ad on Indeed

69. Post your job ad on Google for Jobs

70. Post your job ad on LinkedIn (note: Facebook jobs no longer exists)

71. Post your job ad on Craigslist

72. Find niche-specific job boards that cater to your industry and post your job ads there (like these jobs boards for manufacturing and construction)

73. Get reviews from current employees on your Indeed, Glassdoor, CareerBliss, etc. to make your company more enticing for job seekers

Integrate Recruiting Throughout the Business

74. Record an “on-hold” message that describes current open positions and the benefits of working at your company

75. Put a link to your careers page in your email signature with a call-to-action to apply for open positions

76. Add information about open positions and a hiring call-to-action on your invoices/receipts

Adjust Internal Processes to Become More Appealing to Candidates

77. Offer job shadowing opportunities to give potential candidates a taste of the job

78. Proudly display the salary range & benefits for your open positions to stand out from the competition

79. Start an in-house apprenticeship program to attract unskilled talent and train them from scratch

80. Offer flexible work arrangements to attract candidates who value work-life balance

81. Offer remote work options to attract candidates from other regions

Paid Methods

When you have the budget to invest in sourcing candidates, paid strategies can amplify your reach. Whether through targeted advertising, event sponsorships, or recruitment technology, these options can help you scale your efforts and connect with the right talent faster.

Traditional & Digital Advertising

A well-placed advertisement can put your job openings in front of the right candidates. Digital ads, billboards, and even local radio spots can be effective sourcing strategies in recruitment when targeted to the right audience. Strategic ad placements can drive interest and increase applications.

82. Use retargeting ads to reach people with the same demographics as your current and past employees using their email address

83. Create a radio ad to promote that you’re hiring

84. Pay for advertising at a local amphitheater

85. Pay for advertising at a local fairground

86. Run Google ads in neighboring cities or states and offer a relocation bonus

87. Place an ad in the local newspaper

88. Place an ad in neighborhood magazines

89. Place an ad in your industry trade journals

90. Run hiring ads on social media and YouTube

91. Advertise on public transportation

92. Run hiring ads in neighboring cities, counties, and states and offer a relocation bonus

93. Run a direct mail postcard campaign promoting you’re hiring

94. Pay for an ad in the local high school yearbook

95. Pay for a billboard on a major freeway

Attend Events & Conferences

96. Participate in trade shows and industry events and bring applications

97. Attend job fairs or set up your own virtual job fair

98. Join a virtual Meetup that’s local or related to your trade/industry

Sponsor an Event or Organization

Sponsorships offer a creative sourcing strategy to recruit employees while building brand recognition. Supporting local sports teams, community organizations, or industry trade groups can increase awareness of your company and help attract candidates who align with your values.

99. Sponsor local semi-pro sports teams and put your hiring ad at their stadium

100. Sponsor local clubs or community organizations and put a hiring ad on their resources and marketing materials

101. Sponsor a 5k or other marathon

102. Sponsor a bike-share program in your city and include your website’s career page on the bike wrap

103. Donate to local charity organizations in exchange for promoting that you’re hiring

Incentivize Referrals with Prizes

104. Use various software and prizes to “gamify” your recruitment efforts for more engagement

105. Host a contest on your social media pages and give a gift card to whoever brings you the best applicant

Invest in Technology

Innovative recruitment methods often involve automation and AI tools to streamline sourcing candidates, screening, and communication. Investing in the right recruiting software can help you identify, engage, and hire candidates more efficiently, saving time while improving hiring outcomes.

106. Add a chatbot on your website to answer job-related questions instantly

107. Add a chatbot on your social media profiles to answer job-related questions instantly

108. Use software like Team Engine to automate and simplify your hiring process so it's easier for you to manage, and more efficient for applicants to apply

Miscellaneous

109. Hire a professional videographer to film a recruiting video and share it everywhere

110. Purchase a list of technicians that passed their certification tests in your industry and contact them directly

111. Hire specialized recruiters for your trade/industry

112. Use local temp/staffing agencies

113. Commission a mural that promotes your brand and highlights employees/culture

How Team Engine Simplifies Hiring & Saves You Time

Hiring in blue-collar industries like construction, manufacturing, and home services comes with unique challenges—but Team Engine makes it easier. Our automation and AI-powered tools help you find and hire the best candidates faster while reducing manual effort.

With Team Engine, you can:

• Post jobs across multiple job boards with one click
• Automatically screen applicants to identify top talent
• Schedule interviews without the back-and-forth
• Engage candidates with automated messaging to keep them interested
• Track every applicant's progress so no one falls through the cracks
• Automate employee referrals to keep a steady stream of qualified candidates

By automating these time-consuming tasks, Team Engine helps you fill open roles faster, reduce hiring costs, and free up your team for higher-value work. Try Team Engine today and see the difference firsthand.‍