Passive Candidate

A passive candidate is someone an employer or recruiter is considering for a certain position, although the candidate has not applied for the open position and is not actively searching for a new job. A passive candidate refers to prospective applicants who do not submit their applications promptly when a position opens.These are also often successful individuals with highly respected skill sets and knowledge.

Since passive applicants are already hired, they are career-secure. There will be no instances of exaggerated CVs to impress.. They're experienced and have the right job expertise which makes them more valuable. Therefore there is a much faster return on investment for employers for such candidates. Hiring a passive candidate also decreases integration time and increases productivity.

Example of Passive Candidate

In the tech industry, a passive candidate might be a software engineer who is happy in their current role but who is approached by a recruiter about an opportunity to work on a revolutionary project at a competitor.

Even if the engineer isn't actively looking for a new job, they might be interested in the chance to work with cutting-edge tech, have a big impact on a groundbreaking project, or change careers.

Advertising to passive candidates requires a different strategy than to active job searchers because passive candidates may require additional assurances or incentives to consider leaving their current position. By reaching out to passive candidates and providing attractive career opportunities, organizations can acquire an edge in the competitive job market, access specialized skills and knowledge, and develop a larger talent pool of qualified candidates.