Talent Pooling refers to a database or list of potential candidates and their details who have expressed interest in working within the organization; it is seen as a way to simplify recruitment procedures. With Talent pooling, unsuccessful applicants can be approached first, without having to place job ads or cast a wide net.

The advantage of talent pooling is that employers save time in looking for a new set of candidates; they can directly select from the database.

Talent Pooling plays an important role in direct sourcing strategies, in which organizations avoid recruitment agencies to hire for them but organizations can rather hire based on the strength of their employer brand; which in return saves the organization money. 

In order to build effective talent pools, organizations must have the willingness in making an investment to provide prospective candidates a great employment experience; employers must also be willing to request for candidate’s honest feedback and interest in suitable opportunities if any arise in the future. 

An individual’s recruitment experience is what actually shapes their behavior towards the organization; this is based on the candidate going through the recruitment process or aspiring to work within the organization. With that being said, organizations can improve their candidate experience by doing the following:

• Providing clear and honest job descriptions that accurately reflect the demands of the role.
• Streamlining application processes that only request for essential information
• Providing innovative tech to facilitate faster shortlisting and more engaging assessments
• Having interviewers who are prepared, and prepared to have a two-way conversation
• Providing constructive feedback and timely rejections for unsuccessful interviewees
• Providing good post-interview communication and onboarding for successful candidates.

Advantages of a talent pool

The main advantage of an effective talent pooling strategy is that it provides fast access to a number of engaged and appropriately skilled candidates when the organization needs them most.

Below are the main benefits of talent pooling:

• Reduced time-to-hire: this allows being able to approach known, suitable candidates without having to enter the market via recruitment agencies can drastically reduce the time it takes to fill vacancies.
• Enhanced reputation: research has proved that candidates who enjoy a positive experience will share that information with their peers,  which in return will enhance the organization's  ability to pool talent.
• Faster onboarding: thanks to the candidate’s previous contact with the organization, whether through employment or interview, individuals are pre-vetted and assessed and ready to be onboarded.