Run the calibration meeting before you run the search.
The best sourcers do not start with Boolean. They start by forcing clarity around evidence, tradeoffs, false positives, and market reality.
The meeting structure
- Restate the business problem in plain language.
- Define what evidence proves someone can do the job.
- Separate strict must-haves from preferences.
- Ask what profiles have already failed and why.
- Agree on the first tradeoff if the market is too small.
Questions that change the search
- What would make you say yes in 30 seconds?
- Which requirement can flex first: title, domain, location, compensation, tool stack, or seniority?
- What candidate looked close but failed later?
- Which donor companies produce the right environment?
- What evidence would prove depth, not just keyword familiarity?
How to report market friction
Do not say the market is bad. Show the lane. Show the count. Show the false positives. Show which requirement collapsed the pool. Then recommend the next experiment.
SourcingOS workflow
The JD Strategy Tool turns intake notes into search lanes and calibration questions. Candidate Search turns those lanes into public evidence you can review with the hiring manager.