Any working professional working in any type of industry or sector always tries to get on their manager’s good side and do better at work. This does not give only appreciation but helps individual to grow in his career. If you are a sourcing professional and want to perform better than your colleagues, then here are few points you should always consider. Because most of sourcing managers expect their team members should know these.

1) Over Analyzing resumes

Basically sourcing professionals should not read resumes they should scan them in 10 seconds. If you can’t absolutely disqualify a candidate in 10 seconds then pick up the phone and call them to align his / her qualifications and experience with the job description. As resumes does not give complete picture of the people or candidate.

2) Generating specific searches

Mostly sourcing executive tends to search with basic keyword and title searches which yield generic and basic results of numerous matches. It generates results that are often so large that you were unable to review them all. Hence generate specific searches according to job description which helps to develop limited and worthy results.

3) Avoid making assumptions about people based on their resumes

Never make assumptions based on resumes because, apart from qualifications and experience you need to check the candidates accessibility such as, is he / she willing to relocate? How far the candidate might commute? Is the candidate open for contract position and so on?

4) Research, test and refine your searches

Before you take action on your searches you need to test, analyse and refine your searches. Always apply the principle used by Abraham Lincoln who once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.” Hence always take some time to sharpen your searches before you take action.

5) Having sourcing tunnel vision

Always have a tunnel vision for sourcing, which means not seeing each resume as only a potential match for the position you are sourcing for. Even if a specific resume you are scanning may not appear to be an ideal match but it actually might be.

6) Searching with multiple options

Assuming with one search you will able to find all qualified candidates is not viable way of sourcing. Always consider every search you run includes qualified people and also excludes qualified people.

8) Neglecting under or overqualified candidates

You should not judge the candidate as junior or senior for the sourcing position because such person might work with or know someone who is an exact match for your search.

9) Submit 2-3 candidates suitable for the position.

It is always advisable to submit first 2-3 candidates you find that fit your job/hiring profile and moving on to the next open position. Sourcing and recruiting should not be conducted on a FIFO basis.

10) Relying solely or heavily on title-based searches

Every company uses different titles for the same roles and responsibilities hence searching based on title may exclude the perfect match.

11) Provide solutions, not only problems

If you take your problems to your manager he or she will solve them but if you propose solutions then your manager will respond differently as it will be easier for him or her to react.

12) Attitude

Your attitude matters a lot, basically managing a team can be exhausting but it will be harder when a team member has poor attitude toward work.

13) Feedback

Feedbacks are meant to help you in performing better. Normally nobody likes to hear what they have not done well but feedbacks taken positively will help you to progress in your career.

14) Taking Ownership

It is fine to execute a project given to you but its far better to truly own your work. Taking the project forward, spotting problems before they arise and addressing them.

15) Analyzing situations

Every manager expects his team members to find the answer themselves before asking for help.

If you have these skills or inculcate these capabilities in you then you will able to progress in your sourcing career.