Sourcing is the upstream part of the recruitment funnel, covering the identification, research, and initial engagement of potential candidates. It happens before interviewing and assessment, and its purpose is to build a qualified pool that matches the target profile for a specific role or longer-term talent need.
In the Dutch market, sourcers typically combine LinkedIn Recruiter, GitHub, industry databases, referrals, and sector communities to find both active and passive professionals. For scarce profiles such as engineers, clinical specialists, and bilingual commercial roles, sourcing accounts for most of the time invested in a search. Outreach messages are expected to be personalised, transparent about the role, and concise.
Sourcers working in the Netherlands must handle candidate data in line with AVG principles: lawful basis, purpose limitation, minimal data collection, and clear retention limits. Maintaining a well-organised, consent-aware longlist improves both compliance and long-term conversion.