A networking drink, a trade fair, or an industry event. For you as a recruiter, is it a chore or a valuable opportunity to connect? It’s often during real conversations that you find that rare, exceptional candidate. Yet too often, that encounter fades into oblivion. A business card gets lost, a name ends up in a note on your phone… and that’s it. A shame, because it’s precisely those informal conversations that form the foundation of a lasting match.

The Importance of Networking in Recruitment

Although online recruitment and AI-driven matching have almost become the standard, personal contact remains indispensable in recruitment. A good conversation at a networking event or social gathering reveals far more than a CV, assessment, or application game ever could. You get to know someone directly, learn what drives them, and sense whether there’s a match and cultural fit with your organization. That human factor makes networking valuable — and makes you, as a recruiter, irreplaceable.

Yet the follow-up to that conversation often proves difficult. Sometimes there isn’t an immediately suitable vacancy, or the candidate isn’t actively looking for a new role (yet). That great connection slowly fades into the background, and before you know it, you’ve forgotten.

Sustainable Networking with Softmatch

Last time, we already told you about our new tool: Softmatch — the AI tool that makes recruitment effortlessly simple for you. Softmatch not only helps you online but also supports efficient networking. With our software, you can manually add candidates to an existing vacancy, your ATS, or HR system. Additionally, you can send a candidate a link to invite them to an online assessment, so you immediately know whether that great connection also translates into a competency match. During or after the event, quickly enter the candidate’s details to follow up at the right moment. This way, you turn a spontaneous networking conversation into a valuable and concrete contact within your recruitment process.

Softmatch complements your ATS

Many recruiters and organizations now use an ATS. However, most systems are primarily designed for direct applications through their own website or other online channels. Candidates who fall outside that process aren’t always easy to integrate.

Softmatch helps you build bridges. It can be integrated into existing HR systems and ATS platforms, allowing you to give manually added candidates the same follow-up as those who enter through the regular channels. Loose lists and forgotten notes are a thing of the past. Creating valuable talent pools becomes effortless with the right data. Softmatch helps you take the step from reactive to proactive recruiting.

Networking is planting seeds for the future

Networking often starts with planting a seed — a good conversation, a great connection, or shared interests. A solid foundation for future collaborations. 

What’s often forgotten is harvesting that seed. That would be a shame, because that’s where the long-term value lies. By adding candidates directly to your ATS or HR system, harvesting becomes much easier. With Softmatch’s handy tools, you can immediately see whether there’s a competency match and a fit with the team. This way, you quickly find out whether it’s worth inviting the candidate for a follow-up conversation.

The Future of Networking: Digital and Personal

With this approach, a networking event is no longer just a fleeting, enjoyable moment — it becomes a strategic part of your recruitment plan. The future of recruitment lies not only in technology but in the smart combination of human contact and data. Set yourself apart from the crowd with intelligent tools and make a difference with your personal qualities. 

Curious about what Softmatch can do for you? Schedule a free demo, and we’ll tell you all about it.