Posting a job and waiting for applications is not a sourcing strategy. Sourcing is active: it's the combination of channels, messaging, and timing an employer uses to get in front of the right candidates, not just any candidates. A strong sourcing strategy accounts for where a specific candidate type actually spends their time, whether that's career sites, employee referral programs, social media recruiting, or industry-specific networks. It also accounts for what those candidates respond to. For a dealership trying to hire technicians or a home health agency recruiting CNAs, a generic posting on a general job board rarely produces quality results. The sourcing strategy defines who you're trying to reach, where you'll reach them, and what you'll say when you do.