By Rajni Bansal 
Candidate sourcing is the process of finding and reaching out to potential candidates. It happens before screening or interviews start. This glossary sorts out the 9 sourcing terms agencies run into most.
See Hirin’s AI candidate sourcing page. Or read our full guide to AI candidate sourcing platforms for the deep version.
Quick-reference table
| Term | In one line |
|---|---|
| Candidate sourcing | Finding and reaching out to potential candidates |
| AI candidate sourcing | Candidate sourcing done automatically, using AI |
| Candidate sourcing platform | Software built to run candidate sourcing at scale |
| Candidate sourcing tools | Same category, plural framing recruiters also search for |
| Automated candidate sourcing | Sourcing work that runs without a recruiter doing it by hand |
| Resume parsing software | Pulls structured data out of a raw resume |
| Resume parser | The specific tool that does the parsing |
| Boolean search | A search string using AND, OR, and NOT to narrow results |
| Sourcing from LinkedIn and Naukri | Sourcing candidates from two of India’s biggest talent pools |
Candidate sourcing
Candidate sourcing is the process of finding and reaching out to potential candidates. It covers every channel: job boards, LinkedIn, referrals, and your own database. It happens before screening starts. See Hirin’s AI candidate sourcing for how this step gets automated.
AI candidate sourcing
AI candidate sourcing uses AI to find and reach out to candidates automatically. It searches multiple channels at once and ranks candidates by fit. Read our full guide to AI candidate sourcing platforms for a deeper comparison.
Candidate sourcing platform
A candidate sourcing platform is software built to run sourcing at scale. It usually combines search, outreach, and tracking in one place. Most modern platforms now build AI into that search step directly.
Candidate sourcing tools
Candidate sourcing tools means the same thing as a candidate sourcing platform. Recruiters use both phrasings when researching software to buy. The features underneath don’t change based on the wording.
Automated candidate sourcing
Automated candidate sourcing is sourcing work that runs without a recruiter doing it by hand. That can mean full AI matching, or simpler rule-based automation. Not every automated tool is an AI tool underneath.
Resume parsing software
Resume parsing software pulls structured data out of a raw resume. It extracts name, skills, experience, and contact details automatically. See our ATS Glossary for how parsing fits into the wider hiring pipeline.
Resume parser
A resume parser is the specific tool that does the parsing. Sourcing platforms and ATS software both often run one under the hood. The parser itself is a component, not a full platform.
Boolean search
Boolean search uses words like AND, OR, and NOT to narrow a candidate search. Recruiters use it to search LinkedIn, Naukri, or a resume database precisely. It takes practice, but it still saves real time over a plain keyword search.
Sourcing from LinkedIn and Naukri
Sourcing from LinkedIn and Naukri means finding candidates on two of India’s biggest talent pools. LinkedIn skews toward white-collar and mid-to-senior roles. Naukri covers a wider, high-volume slice of the Indian job market. Most Indian staffing agencies end up sourcing from both.
The bottom line for staffing agencies
Most of these 9 terms describe one workflow from different angles. Sourcing, platform, tool, and automation all point back to the same core job. The real question is how much of that job AI actually does for you.
Hirin’s AI candidate sourcing searches, ranks, and reaches out to candidates automatically, across channels.