How to attract passive candidates & Your ultimate career workbook for 2025! - The Talent Newsletter Edition #12

In this last edition for 2024 ???you'll find tips on what you can do when working over the holiday season to attract passive candidates AND as an end-of-year gift????you can download?my 3 part career workbook for FREE????

If you find this content valuable and would like to know how I can help your organisation, reach out and we can have a chat! ? ???

Let's jump in! ??

???Building a strategy to attract passive talent – before, during, and after the holidays?

The holiday season isn’t just about closing out the year, it’s a strategic time to lay the groundwork for next year. If you are working through the holiday season recruiting, here are a few tips on how you can build a sustainable system to identify, engage, and convert passive talent into your pipeline for the new year.

1) Identifying passive candidates?

Passive candidates are professionals who aren’t actively job hunting but are open to the right opportunity. Here’s some tips on how to find them:?

• Audit LinkedIn?networks:?Use advanced search filters to find professionals in your extended network of connections by skills, experience, and industry. ?
• Referrals from colleagues, employees and people you know:?Ask people around you to refer high-potential connections who aren’t actively looking but might be swayed by a great role.?
• Content engagement:?Track who interacts with your company’s posts, newsletters, or industry insights. These subtle interactions can signal interest.?
• Boomerang employees:?Look for previous employees who worked for your company and might be open to coming back. If they left on good terms there is a good chance they would be open to discuss opportunities or at least be open to refer someone else from their network.

?2) Creating a system to engage passive talent?

A one-off effort won’t cut it. Build a system to engage passive candidates year-round. Some of the best hires can be a slow burning process. Be patient.?

Build a calendar system that reminds you to reach out to them on a regular basis?

• Use touchpoints like holidays, the new year, or milestones (like promotions or work anniversaries) to engage. For example, a congratulatory message for their career achievement keeps the door open.?
• Maintain personalised follow-ups with a focus on career development, not “Are you looking?” but “How’s your professional growth journey?”?
• Offer them news and insights on what is happening in your company that might be of interest or value to them.

3) Before, during, and after the holidays?

Before the holidays:?

• Prep your talent list:?Identify top professionals you want to engage in the new year. Collect information about their career moves and current interests.?
• Create engaging content:?Share light, seasonal updates about your team, company culture, or future plans to stay visible without being pushy.?
• Revisit past candidates:?Circle back to professionals you engaged with earlier in the year. A simple “checking in before the holidays” message can re-ignite interest.?

During the holidays:?

• Send personalised notes:?Send thoughtful, low-pressure holiday greetings. Example:?“Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and an inspiring year ahead. Let’s stay in touch in 2025—always curious about where your career is heading!”?
• Share year-end insights:?Post or send valuable reflections that would be of interest and value to them. Position your company and yourself as an informed, forward-thinking colleague and employer.?

After the holidays:?

• Kickstart your follow-up:?In 2025, reconnect with candidates who showed interest during and after the holidays. Example:?“We’re growing our team this year and thought of you—are you open to a chat about opportunities?”?
• Host value-driven events:?Plan webinars, career workshops, or Q&A sessions about professional growth in your company. Invite passive talent to join these learning experiences to build trust and interest.

??Engaging with talent in a personal way, providing value and building long-term relationships will have them coming your way once they are ready to start looking for their next career opportunity.?

????The Ultimate 3-part career workbook series?

Start 2025 with redesigning your career and take charge of your professional journey????

I'm giving away for free my?digital 3-part career workbook series. These workbooks will empower you with practical tools and insights to take control of your professional journey and well-being. Spend your holiday planning and taking charge of your future.?

???? Download HERE or PM me "career workbook" to get 3 separate workbooks and a total of 75 pages of content!??

The 3 different PDF workbooks included in the download are:?

• Workbook 1: Career Discovery Workbook
• Workbook 2: Career Transition Workbook?
• Workbook 3: Work-Life Balance Workbook

???? These are packed with exercises that will help with finding clarity, inspiration and practical steps on your journey to a fulfilling career. Find out more on what is included in each workbook HERE?

?? I would like to thank you for reading and subscribing to my newsletter this year. I wish you a peaceful holiday season and a great start to 2025! Looking forward to sharing more talent news with you next year again.??

Stay tuned for the next edition and remember to subscribe to get notified when the next bi-weekly newsletter is out! ?? ???

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???? Looking for support and coaching in taking your career to the next level, check out how I can help ?? HERE.??

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