# Candidate sourcing

There are three ways candidates can appear in your JOIN account:

1. **Automatic sourcing** – When a candidate applies to your job via a multiposted platform (e.g. job boards), their application is automatically added to JOIN.
2. **Manual sourcing** – You add a candidate yourself via the `Applications` tab or directly in the `Applications` sub-tab inside a job.
3. **Chrome Extension sourcing** – You import candidates directly from LinkedIn using the JOIN Talent Sourcing Chrome Extension.

This article focuses on the last two options: **manual** and **Chrome Extension** sourcing. If you've received an application outside JOIN (e.g. via email, referral, or LinkedIn), you can manually add the candidate to your job to keep your pipeline complete and centralised.

This is done through the `Add application` option.

Sourcing candidates directly into JOIN allows you to:

* Centralise all candidate data in one place
* Avoid losing promising profiles found outside job boards
* Track sourcing channels (manual, referral, LinkedIn, etc.)
* Maintain GDPR compliance through automated consent handling
* Move sourced candidates through the same pipeline as other applicants

This ensures a streamlined, consistent hiring experience for both recruiters and candidates.

***

### Add a candidate manually

Manual sourcing is useful when you’ve received a CV outside JOIN — for example, through referrals, events, or networking. Once added, the candidate appears in your `Applications` tab for the relevant job and is fully manageable like any other applicant.

#### Add from the applications page

1. Go to the `Applications` tab
2. Click the `Active` sub-tab
3. Click `Add application` in the top-right corner
4. Select `Add manually` from the dropdown
5. In the `Add Candidate` pop-up:
   * Enter the candidate’s email address and click `Continue`
   * Fill in the required fields:
     * `First name`
     * `Last name`
     * `Source` (how the candidate came to you)
   * Optionally add:
     * `Phone number`
     * `CV` (PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, or RTF)
     * `Cover Letter`
6. Click `Continue` to complete the submission

{% hint style="info" %}
Once added, the candidate receives a Consent Request email automatically. You can customise this email in `Settings` > `Email Templates`.
{% endhint %}

#### Add from a specific job

1. Go to the `Jobs` tab and select the relevant job
2. Click the overflow menu <i class="fa-square-ellipsis">:square-ellipsis:</i> in the top-right corner
3. Hover over `Add application` and select `Add manually`
4. Follow the same steps as above to complete the candidate form

{% hint style="info" %}
Manually added candidates are tagged with `Manually assigned` and their consent status is shown in the application view.
{% endhint %}

***

### Add using the Chrome Extension

The Chrome Extension allows you to import candidate profiles directly from LinkedIn into your JOIN ATS.

{% hint style="warning" %}
The extension only works on LinkedIn profiles. It will not activate on other websites.
{% endhint %}

#### Accessing and installing the extension

You can reach the Chrome Extension setup from three places in JOIN:

* The `Applications` tab > `Add application` > `Chrome Extension`
* Any job’s <i class="fa-square-ellipsis">:square-ellipsis:</i> overflow menu > `Add application` > `Chrome Extension`
* The `Settings` tab > `Chrome Extension` (bottom of the sidebar)
* Or, you can install the extension here: [JOIN Talent Sourcing – Chrome Web Store](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/join-talent-sourcing/ejhbogofejeijcndmcehmaagmpijieic) <i class="fa-link">:link:</i>

All paths redirect you to the Chrome Web Store page.

<figure><img src="https://1825767176-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FEdFjOFlkC1DEfDv3nGRh%2Fuploads%2FIgTYGPRZO2Rssf3jSv1M%2Fadd-extension-to-chrome.png?alt=media&#x26;token=8af45a40-5511-4bf2-b3be-8b3cd82bd449" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1. On the Chrome Web Store page, click `Add to Chrome`.
2. Confirm by clicking `Add extension`.
3. You will be asked to log in to JOIN and open your LinkedIn account to connect the extension.
4. Once set up, you can open any LinkedIn profile — the JOIN widget will appear on the right-hand side of the page.

#### Importing a candidate from LinkedIn

<figure><img src="https://1825767176-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FEdFjOFlkC1DEfDv3nGRh%2Fuploads%2FuDFJXzMJJh4YRoVExtNr%2Fezgif.com-animated-gif-maker.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=5f0e6a8e-86da-42c2-990f-ac6cb5dac953" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Once the extension is installed and active, you can start importing:

1. Go to the LinkedIn profile of the person you want to add as a candidate.
2. Click the `Add talent` button that you'll see when you hover over the JOIN extension widget.
3. If the LinkedIn user has made [their information public](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a523134/visibility-of-your-email-address-on-linkedin), the widget will automatically fetch details such as: Name, Email, Phone number, LinkedIn URL, Location
   * If some of this information is not public, those fields will remain empty.
   * If no email is available, you will be prompted to manually add one before proceeding.
4. Select the relevant job from the dropdown list.
   * If you have no active jobs, the widget will ask you to create one before continuing.
5. Click `Import`.
6. The system will attempt to import the candidate:
   * If successful, you’ll see a confirmation screen with the candidate’s details. Click `View candidate profile` to open their application in JOIN.
   * If the candidate already exists for that job, you’ll be shown a message with an option to go directly to their application.
   * If the import fails, an error message appears and you can try again.
7. Once imported, the candidate is marked in JOIN as `Added via Chrome Extension`.

{% hint style="info" %}
Consent Request email is automatically sent to candidates sourced using the Chrome Extension. Once candidates give consent you'll be able to process and manage their application within JOIN.
{% endhint %}