Why the Best Candidates Aren’t Always Actively Job Searching

You’ve posted the job. Waited and refreshed the applications and yet, disappointingly no one stands out - so where are all the brilliant people you were hoping to find?

Here’s the truth of it: the best candidates might not be actively looking.

Not because they’re not open to change or desperately unhappy. But because they don’t need to scour job boards every week. They’re already busy doing the day job. But if the right opportunity lands in front of them, something that feels aligned with their values, ambition, and life priorities they’ll move.

These are the people we work with every day at Michelle Denny Recruitment Consultancy.

Active vs Passive Candidates - What’s the Difference?

Active candidates are those who are visibly searching: CVs updated, applications flying out the door, profiles flagged as “open to work.”

Passive candidates, on the other hand, aren’t on the market in the traditional sense. They’re not browsing Indeed in their lunch hour. They’re not uploading CVs to databases. But they are open to conversations with the right people.

That distinction is important because some of the most skilled, emotionally intelligent, and commercially astute professionals don’t have time (or the inclination) to play the volume game.

Why You’re Missing Them - And What You Can Do Differently

Traditional agencies tend to rely heavily on two things: job board adverts and their internal databases. While there’s nothing wrong with those tools, they’re not always enough. Databases go out of date. Adverts are only seen by those actively searching. And by the time someone applies, they’ve probably applied to ten other roles too.

At MDR, we don’t rely on a one-dimensional search process. We take a different approach. One that reflects how senior and strategic hiring really works.

How We Reach the People You’re Looking For

We’re not head-hunters in the old-school sense. We don’t cold-message strangers or blast out CVs for commission.

Instead, we operate with a strong consultative framework built on three core principles: People. Purpose. Partnership.

We get to know you. Your business. Where you are now, and where you want to go. Then we get to work identifying who could help you get there even if they’re not currently actively sending out CVs.

We’ve been in this region for nearly two decades, we’ve built deep, genuine relationships. We know who’s happy, who’s quietly browsing, and who’s ready to make a move for the right role. And we know what those “right roles” look like, because we’ve taken the time to understand you first.

We use a combination of personal outreach, behavioural role analysis, psychometrics, and market insight to match people not just to job specs, but to cultures, teams, and long-term potential.

It’s Not About More CVs. It’s About the Right One.

If you’re used to agencies throwing dozens of CVs at a wall to see what sticks, our process may feel different. That’s because it is. We’ll never fill your inbox with “possibles.” We’ll bring you people with purpose.

Candidates we’ve met and interviewed, assessed, and feel confident putting in front of you.

And that means we’re often ahead of the market. By the time roles are public, we’ve already spoken to people who could be ideal and it’s those people who aren’t responding to adverts, but who are open to the right opportunity when it’s brought to them professionally and personally.

Why It Matters More Than Ever

With the market as competitive as it is, the days of relying solely on inbound applications are gone. The best people have options. They’re interviewing you as much as you’re interviewing them.

They want to know what makes your opportunity different. How your culture supports development. Whether this is a career move, not just a job swap.

That’s where we come in not just as recruiters, but as partners. We make sure the story of your business is being told in the right way, to the right people.

So, What Should You Do Next?

If you’re planning to hire now or in the near future and you want to know how to access talent beyond the usual suspects, let’s talk.

You can:

• Book a coffee and a chat about your recruitment process

• Message us about our free Role Analysis tool to define what the role really needs

• Or simply connect for future hiring support that’s built on trust, not targets

Because when the right person meets the right opportunity, everything changes. And we’re here to help that happen.

📩 Ready to attract candidates who aren’t actively looking but are open to the right role?Message us today or Book a call to talk through your next hire - or request a free

Role Analysis to get started.