Hidden in plain sight: The untapped potential of candidate rediscovery

While many organizations are inadvertently rediscovering candidates already in their database, few have developed intentional strategies to tap into this valuable talent pool.

One of the most overlooked goldmines for talent lies in candidates already in your CRM and ATS — individuals who have previously applied, interviewed, or engaged with your organization but were not selected or hired. Instead of focusing solely on sourcing new talent, companies can improve hiring efficiency by strategically leveraging rediscovery methods within their existing database.

Why rediscovered talent is a competitive advantage

Rediscovered candidates offer several advantages over newly sourced talent, including:

• Familiarity with the organization - Since they’ve already engaged with the company, they have some level of understanding of its culture, expectations, and processes, which can accelerate onboarding.

• Stronger engagement and interest - Their past application or interaction signals a genuine interest in the company, making them more likely to accept an offer.

• Time and cost savings - Instead of paying for job ads, hiring agencies, or launching new searches, hiring teams can quickly identify qualified candidates within their existing database.

Despite these clear advantages, most organizations lack systematic approaches to rediscover and engage with past candidates.

Rediscovered hires are on the rise

Over the past four years, the percentage of hires existing within companies’ CRM or ATS has increased significantly, rising from 29.1% in 2021 to 44.0% in 2024. This significant increase suggests companies are naturally returning to candidates they've engaged with before, even without formal rediscovery processes in place. Imagine the potential if organizations made this a deliberate part of their strategy.

With advancements in CRM and ATS capabilities, organizations can implement robust candidate rediscovery strategies more efficiently than ever. Talent rediscovery is no longer just a backup plan. It can be the key driver for building deep, qualified pipelines that accelerate hiring and reduce the need to spend on other sources of talent like job boards and agencies.

Additionally, rediscovery enables companies to strengthen their employer brand by maintaining relationships with past applicants. When candidates see that an organization values their previous interests and keeps them in mind for future opportunities, it fosters goodwill and encourages engagement. This approach fills roles faster and builds a strong talent community that can be leveraged for future hiring needs.

How to build a strong talent rediscovery strategy

To make the most of talent rediscovery, organizations should:

1. Technology with AI search: AI-first, all-in-one tools streamline rediscovery by surfacing past candidates for current roles. As recruiters handle more job requisitions and applications than ever, AI automates manual work and improves efficiency.

2. Engage past candidates: Regularly update them on new opportunities, company changes, and industry trends to keep them interested.

3. Prioritize high-impact roles: Focus rediscovery efforts on roles where past candidates are more likely to be a strong fit.

4. Refine data management: Ensure candidate records are well-maintained, tagged, and categorized for easy retrieval and outreach.

By transforming these coincidental rehires into a deliberate strategy, organizations can amplify these already impressive results.

Use TA’s hidden superpower to hire the right talent faster

Companies are already benefiting from rediscovery without trying - implementing a deliberate strategy could transform this hidden trend into your recruiting team's greatest advantage.

Are you curious for more information beyond these insights? Download “The 2025 Recruiting Benchmarks Report” here.