The survey of 749 LinkedIn users asked candidates how they would best describe themselves in terms of searching for new opportunities.
The results revealed 46% of candidates would consider themselves as active job seekers currently looking for a job. 9% were passive and would not initiate candidacy, and another 4% were not interested in opportunities at all.
It is often argued that a passive or curious candidate is more desirable than an active candidate. But reaching the passive market can be a challenge. After all, passive candidates aren't looking for a job and are not using the traditional recruitment platforms. As such, business networking, social media and direct candidate sourcing become key channels to recruit these types of individuals.
Ken Burt, MD at webrecruit, said: "As recruiters, we have to seek out the right candidates - passive, active and everything in between - regardless of their current working status. This means we have to be vigilant in the resources we are using, and more importantly, how we are using them."
"In reality, no type of candidate is better than the other. Rather, the perfect candidate is the one that best meets your needs, is the right person for the job, and is an individual who fits into your organisation. These findings show now, more than ever, the importance of embracing an integrated recruitment strategy comprising both social media and traditional recruitment methods in order to identify the best person for the job."
