Whether you are a brand new sourcer, a seasoned veteran, or leading a team of sourcers, one of the most important things to do when you or your team start working with a new recruiter or business unit is to lay out the ‘ground rules,’ the ‘rules of engagement,’ and set expectations for your future working relationship. However you want to label it, as a sourcer you MUST let recruiters know some key points about working with you effectively:

• Let them know a little about your sourcing background (if you have prior experience)
• Describe the concept of “Sourcing” to them
• Go over some of your search resources
• Set realistic expectations of your procedures and expected results (also known as an SLA)
• Let them know YOUR preferred method of communication

Following these easy steps will help you develop an open line of communication and a good relationship with your recruiters, and it will also give them some insight as to what you, as a sourcer, will provide to them as a benefit. Otherwise, you may be viewed as nothing more than a ‘junior recruiter’ or a ‘data entry’ individual.

It was the summer of 2006. I had just graduated from the University of Wisconsin and was back in my hometown of Nashville, TN. I had just completed my journalism degree and I was procrastinating in my job search. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was training with my old swim club, attempting to lose that “freshman 15,” and was entertaining national media publications. I was your typical lost college graduate.

After one of my swim practices, I was approached by a member of our coaching staff, Jeremy Organ, and David Williams, Vice Chancellor of Vanderbilt University. Vanderbilt was looking to hire an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator to help build the reinstated women’s swim team. The original program was terminated in 1990. Organ was already slated to take the helm.

At only 22, I was offered my first professional job as a coach for a major university in a large, competitive conference. This opportunity was too good to be true. Many athletes dream of this, but the reality is limited. According to the NCAA, there are 167,089 athletes and 22,131 coaches, a 13% student athlete/coach ratio. With few openings each year, I knew this was an opportunity of a lifetime. I was eager and determined to help build the team.

I arrived early on my first day with a smile from ear to ear. I walked straight into my new office (which I shared with Organ), and declared I was ready to get to work. Organ looked at me with a grin, and asked, “Do you know how to recruit?”

I responded, “No, but I was recruited, can’t be that hard.”

“Good,” Organ stated, “Your computer is right there, figure it out.”