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Looking for a TA career change but not too sure how to get there? Our ‘So you wanna be a…‘ series takes a look at some of the more niche TA roles and digs deep into the who, how, and why behind them. We chat with some of your favourite TA leaders in that space to find out how they got started, what their role really looks like, and what tips and tricks they have for other TA superstars looking to get a foot in the door.
In this issue, we sat down with Dij Thulasi, Talent Sourcing Manager @ Slalom Build, to find out what really goes on in the life of a Sourcing Specialist.
I’ve previously worked in many large to mid-size companies as a Talent Acquisition Specialist. A lot of these companies were going through large scale transformations, and this enabled me to get direct exposure to sourcing and projects. I love the aspect of finding candidates and utilising data/insights to drive sourcing strategies.
I was fortunate enough to head up the Sourcing Function from scratch for Slalom/Slalom Build Australia. We’ve had such great success with the function, and this is going to be rolled out and embedded in other markets globally. Slalom being relatively new here in Australia, my role is to let the external market know our story and drive career conversations. So there is a combination of key focus points such as working with recruitment marketing, driving candidate experience, and focussing on D&I initiatives. I am also hands-on sourcing for six technology capabilities for Slalom Build and working on some key transformation projects.
My day-to-day is always different but generally I am market mapping, building rapport with candidates and building sourcing strategies across the various capabilities. I am also generally working with the business to understand the succession planning to source for business-critical roles and engaging in conversations with the use of data/insights. The bigger picture work is to roll out a similar function globally and be a subject matter expert in this area to assist TA Directors/Senior Managers from other markets.
I am across the full process. I am lucky enough to be working with a fantastic and collaborative team here at Slalom/Slalom Build. We celebrate our wins, and it is a combination of a team effort across both Sourcing and TA. My manager Matt Woodard reinforces the importance of celebrating our wins.
In this current market, there are heaps and heaps of challenges. As everyone knows there is a huge shortage of candidates, and it is extremely competitive. Here are some of the key challenges right now:
I really enjoy working for Slalom/Slalom Build and there is a real sense of purpose here. We are doing things differently in the market and it makes my life a lot easier in telling our story. We’ve got a diverse and inclusive culture, with a mindset of being creative. Everyone who works here is a brand ambassador and plays a pivotal role in shaping our brand presence. In my current role what I really enjoy is being able to build the function from scratch. It is a journey but so well worth it! We are having such great success with this TA model, with sourcing being the backbone for finding passive candidates and bringing significant transformation for the business.
Someone who is persistent and organised. Another quality would be building rapport and providing a fantastic candidate experience.
One of the positives is that I’m seeing a lot more demand for internal companies adopting sourcing functions i.e. retail, health, and technology. A lot of companies are looking to work in this type of model due to demand in roles (especially in technology). If you have a robust sourcing function this enables reduced ‘time to fill’, greater candidate experience, and better brand presence.
When you think of a sourcer, you generally think of an administrator or someone who is supporting a TA Specialist. A sourcer has unique skillsets but the same level of seniority as a TA specialist but who can partner with a business on a strategic level. If you love the blend of data, TA operations and research – then being a sourcer just makes sense!
What are some of the actionable things you can do if you want to be a Sourcing Specialist? Here are some suggestions from Dij of who to follow, what to use, and where to seek out your info.
I generally read a lot of AFR and Tech industry forums.
SeekOut, Human Predictions and X-Ray searches.
Of course ATC events and TalentTable are the key standouts!
Is there a specific niche area of recruitment you’d like to know more about? Email us and let us know.
