Welcome to The Hero 🗞️. This is approximately a 2.5-minute read.
📊 The real data on who replies, who converts, and who stays the longest
🧠 Why the myth of high-value passive candidates
🔍 How to qualify passive outreach for maximum ROI
TL;DR
Most believe passive talent = better talent (myself being one).
But…
The data says that’s not always the case.
The real win?
Targeting the right subset of passive talent - the ones already showing the right signals.
Passive > Active
Recruiters spend hours chasing the (wrong kind) of passive talent.
The logic goes:
“If they’re already employed, they must be good.”
And sure, sometimes that’s true.
But most of the time, your efforts end up with:
👉 Unanswered InMails
👉 Multi-step outreach with no response
👉 Massive sourcing costs and zero hires
The reality?
Passive doesn’t always mean qualified or available (let alone high-performing).
The full breakdown’s just below - don’t miss it! 😉
Links of the Day:
🔗 Best Links
Here are some of the best links I’ve found since last time I emailed you:
👩💻 ATS & Recruiting Platforms
📩 Email Outreach & Communication Templates
🪙 Offer Strategy and Compensation
🗃️ DEI in Hiring
The Data Backs This Up
Most passive outreach gets <20% response.
Even with cold email cadences -
You're looking at 14–26% reply rates depending on the channel.
🧲 Hire Rates
Passive candidates convert higher with more engagement: 2.0% vs 0 .4% for inbound applicants.
🏹 Sourcing vs Hiring Reality
73% of recruiters say outbound is essential, yet <50% of hires come from sourced candidates.
The Reality Check
"Passive" talent breaks down into three groups:
The Unicorn
Already crushing it (somewhere else).
Will take 10+ touch-points AND a huge comp bump.
Worth it…
But only if you break the bank.
The Window-Shopper
Not actively applying…
But thinking about it.
These are gold.
They engage, ask smart questions, and convert.
The Cold Stone
Zero interest.
Move on.
It’s that simple. ✌️
Your Outbound Strategy (Think Deeper)
✅ Go beyond the job title
Look for:
Recent side projects
Profile updates
Person website
Socials
✅ Prioritize quality signals
GitHub activity, portfolio refreshes, Medium posts
Recent certifications or upskilling moves
Engagement with your industry content
To Sum It Up…
Active doesn’t mean desperate.
And passive doesn’t mean perfect.
What you’re really looking for is intent -
A hint of momentum. A signal they’re open to something different (better).
Most burn time chasing ghosts…
But the best track the right signals 🚥
And To Wrap It Up…
If you're cold-messaging people with no signal, you're playing inbox roulette.
Instead:
👉 Screen for signals, not just spray and pray
👉 Track hire rate per source (not reply rate alone)
👉 Build long-term nurture campaigns for "window-shoppers"
HOW WE CAN HELP?
There are a few ways:
Or you can just reply to this email.
I reply to absolutely everyone who writes me back 🙂
