Start the search with a shared direction.
A job description gives you a starting point. Before you build the list, use this worksheet to agree on what the hire needs to accomplish, which requirements matter, and where the search has room to move. Then turn those answers into research hypotheses and a clear plan for reviewing early profiles.
Use it with a hiring manager at kickoff, and return to it when market feedback suggests the search needs to change.
Two-page PDF · Printable worksheet
A practical starting point for the search.
The first page helps you clarify outcomes, separate must-haves from preferences, discuss real examples, explore flexibility, and agree on useful feedback. The second turns those decisions into a simple talent map and a plan for testing the assumptions behind it.
When you start mapping the market, look for evidence of comparable work. Our guide to finding passive candidates beyond LinkedIn explores where that research can take you.
For a look at how Paired Sourcing works alongside an internal recruiting team, including scope, handoffs, and pricing, see How We Work.
Companion to Paired Sourcing's October 20 LinkedIn article, The First 30 Minutes of a Search Matter More Than You Think.