Beyoncé-Inspired Sourcing Strategies: An Ode to Constant Learning and Reinvention
As Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter continues her sensational “Renaissance” tour with a performance tonight in Los Angeles — my hometown — the energy is palpable.
🐝 This specific phase in Beyoncé’s 25-year career mirrors my own multi-decade journey through the dynamic landscape of recruitment and Corporate America.
Just as Beyoncé is experiencing a unique renaissance with a new genre, pushing the boundaries of her artistry, I too am undergoing a rebirth with the launch of my latest venture, The Collab Lab, Inc.™ My focus is on elevating the skills and careers of Talent Acquisition professionals through interactive workshops, results-driven coaching, and dynamic virtual events.
Inspired by Beyoncé’s ceaseless drive for learning and reinvention, and to celebrate her birthday and favorite number 4, here are four sourcing strategies that embody her iconic song titles and the principles of our shared ethos.
1. Deja Vu: Stop Seeing the Same Profiles Over and Over
What: A strategy to avoid viewing the same LinkedIn Recruiter profiles you’ve already considered.
How: Use LinkedIn Recruiter advanced search settings to hide ‘Previously Viewed’ and apply ‘Recruiting Activity’ filters.
Why: It ensures your time is spent on new, potential talent rather than revisiting profiles.
Remix: Use the “Fuzzy Logic” strategy to expand your search pool. Intentionally misspell or abbreviate job titles to catch profiles you might have missed.
2. Green Light: Speedy Calibration
What: A strategy to begin sourcing immediately after your strategy/kickoff session.
How: Execute an advanced search with “recently joined” filters. Calibrate with your hiring manager within 48 hours.
Why: This sets the tempo and ensures you and the hiring manager are aligned.
Remix: Plan to have a sourcing sync with the hiring team weekly, sharing data, insights and strategies.
3. Radio: Tune into WIIFM
What: A strategy focusing on the WIIFM principle — “What’s In It For Me.”
How: Use available data on your target audience to customize your outreach. Resources like StackOverflow’s annual survey and Betts Salary Guide can equip you to resonate with the candidate’s WIIFM frequency.
Why: This enhances response rates and engagement.
Remix: Use the A.D.D. value strategy to ensure your messaging is memorable.
4. Find Your Way Back: The Bread Crumbs Method
What: A strategy to document your sourcing pathways — both dead ends and those that lead to pots of gold.
How: Track your Boolean or natural language strings using your favorite digital note-taker. If you’re a fan of pen and pad, use a worksheet like the Pre-Sourcing 3x3 grid (PS3).
Why: Should you need to pause a search and restart later, this documentation will save you significant time.
Remix: Use “Pre-search Prompting” to generate insights on the market and refine your sourcing strategy using cutting-edge artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT-4.
As Beyoncé’s final note reverberates through L.A. tonight for the final of three performances, remember her journey teaches us the power of continual transformation. Apply these sourcing strategies and level up your game. By melding the artistic inspiration of Beyoncé with tangible, value-added recruiting techniques, you’re not just part of the crowd — you’re the star of your own talent acquisition stage.
🎼 Encore: What’s your favorite Beyoncé-inspired sourcing strategy? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let’s keep the groove going!
Maisha L. Cannon || Learner & Leader || The Collab Lab, Inc.
🎼 Play to get a feel for the story of Maisha’s career, stay to get a feel for Maisha herself.
With the vibrant energy of a 90's R&B intro, Maisha L. Cannon embarked on her dynamic talent acquisition journey as a recruiter at E! Entertainment.
Maisha recruited exceptional teams at Google, LinkedIn, SpaceX, and Verizon. After transitioning from recruiting to sourcing, she found her rhythm, sharing her successes and setbacks with the global talent acquisition community. Her voice resonated on stages worldwide, including SourceCon (7x), Recruiters Network (6x), and Gem Summit (2x).
Although “It Never Rains In Southern California,” the Los Angeles native now embraces the rain-soaked allure of British Columbia. She recently started The Collab Lab, Inc., where she composes insightful L&D programs that enable talent teams to source with precision and ease.
Isn’t it “Funny How Time Flies When You’re Having Fun?” This year marks Maisha’s 20th anniversary in recruiting. To celebrate, she is hosting monthly networking meetups for colleagues to connect, collaborate, and celebrate wins.
Eager to discover the melody behind the magic? Join Maisha in the Lab for a memorable experience designed to help you see that “This Is How We Do It.”
