SourceCon Community, 

Thank you SourceCon community for your generous support. I am overwhelmed by your willingness to assist me in my creative endeavors to spread the good news of SourceCon to the world. Another peer reviewed article posted this week and several community members have helped me with a video project that you will see this coming week. So, stay tuned for that. ;-)

Actually, you can set a reminder for yourself by going to our new YouTube channel and subscribing. It's not much there now, but like I said, that's going to change this week. Oohhh... I want to tell you now but I'm sworn to secrecy. Tee-hee. 

On a more somber note, I've been noticing a lot of layoff notices and people asking for job search assistance. And at nearly the same rate, I've noticed the community stepping up with job search assistance. It warms my heart everytime I see it across our various channels. Please do keep it up. These are interesting times and a lot of blame points to AI. When we get to a point where thousands of software engineers are complaining about the job market, we are in uncharted territory. I made commentary about that inside The Circle and tried to uplift the discouraged by proving what I think is the best way to future-proof your career; developing your interpersonal skills. Check it out when you get a chance and share it with anyone who needs to read it. 

Finally, as I transition to something more positive, my Bigfoot article has struck a chord with the community. So far, it's in the running to be the most popular SourceCon article of 2024! (Of course, the year is just beginning.) I'm curious how many of you have bigfoot reqs on your desks today. Tweet me (X me, you know what I mean) and let me know. Be sure to tag @sourcecon so I'll be sure to see it. Cool? Cool. 

Okay, it's time for me to get back to it. I appreciate your time and your reading this far and (presumably) to the end of this newsletter. 

Happy New Year! 

(Umm... How much longer can I keep saying that before it gets old?) 

Jim Stroud
Your SourceCon Editor 

 Fresh Content This Week

Bigfoot Recruiting: How To Source Candidates That Do Not Exist

It is sometimes a comedy of errors to observe the (sometimes) disconnect from reality between recruiters and well-meaning hiring managers. Case in point, I was perusing prompt engineering jobs and quietly chuckling as I scanned the experience requirements. It is widely known that prompt engineering is relatively new, yet there are companies actively seeking “Senior Prompt Engineers.”  I suppose “senior” is relative but, is it really? Sigh. 

(Click here to read more)

Revolutionizing Talent Sourcing with Human-Computer Interaction (HCI): Crafting the Ultimate Experience

At the heart of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) lies the blend of UX Design and Behavioral Psychology. It’s not just about creating snazzy interfaces; it’s about understanding how people tick and making their interaction with technology not just tolerable, but delightful. So, what’s the connection between HCI and talent sourcing? More than you’d think! By applying HCI’s four key usability heuristics – Linguistic, Physical, Navigational, and Conceptual – we can revolutionize how we engage with potential talent. It’s about making their experience as smooth as a well-aged scotch.

(Click here to read more)

Upcoming Conferences

SourceCon

Orlando | Digital

April 9-10, 2024

Learn from and connect with sourcing leaders and professionals. This isn't your typical conference — it's an immersive experience that goes beyond the surface, delving deep into the innovative strategies and cutting-edge technologies that are reshaping the sourcing landscape. (SourceCon)

ERE Recruiting Conference

Austin | Digital

May 15-17, 2024

The ERE Recruiting Conference is the premier independent practitioner-led recruiting event that provides actionable insights for TA pros, by TA pros. Join fellow colleagues to discover practical ideas, best practices, and case study solutions from leaders who share your toughest recruiting challenges — and have experience overcoming them. (ERE Recruiting Conference)

Talent42

Seattle | Digital

June 3-4, 2024

The No. 1 tech recruiting conference will be returning in June to provide best practices in small-group settings from some of the best talent acquisition professionals in the world. From impactful presentations to candid roundtables to hands-on workshops, this is the conference you do not want to miss. (Talent42)

SourceCon Meme of the Week