CLAMPS: Understanding What Candidates *Really* Want to Hear from Recruiters

What do candidates actually want to see and hear when recruiters reach out?

Sometimes, it feels like as recruiters we wish we could get into the minds of candidates a la that terrible '90s movie "What Women Want." 

But the thing is: Every candidate is different.

So rather than assuming they all want the same things or are motivated in the same way, it helps to just...ask them.

Many recruiters default to highlighting “great career growth opportunities” or promises of higher compensation. However, these approaches often miss the mark — or at least get lost in the fray.

Because the reality is that every recruiter is telling candidates the same thing — and in the process, you're assuming a lot about the candidate's needs and motivations.

Trying to get to the bottom of what drives a candidate, or what would make them interested in taking a leap? Read on.

The CLAMPS Framework

The CLAMPS framework outlines six key motivators that commonly drive job changes:

1. Challenges
2. Location
3. Advancement opportunities
4. Money
5. People
6. Security/stability

While money and location are often “gateway” factors that candidates use to determine if an opportunity is worth considering, they’re rarely the primary reasons people actually make a job change.

Key takeaways for recruiters

Address all motivators

In your outreach sequence, aim to touch on all CLAMPS elements. Different candidates will have different priorities.

Be honest about the role

Whether a position offers significant challenges or is more routine, be upfront about it. This helps ensure a good fit and reduces the risk of early turnover.

Ask open-ended questions

To truly understand a candidate’s motivations without leading them in any particular direction and skewing the data, ask questions like:

1. What do you like about your current job?
2. What would you change if you could?
3. Why did you agree to speak with me?

Create a CLAMPS profile

For each candidate, try to gauge where they fall on the spectrum for each CLAMPS element. This will help you tailor your approach and address potential concerns from hiring managers. Understanding a candidate’s motivations is crucial not just for initial outreach, but also during negotiations and when countering potential counteroffers.

Leveraging technology

At Loxo, we’re excited about the potential of AI to enhance this process. While AI can’t replace the human touch in understanding candidate motivations, it can help analyze patterns in resumes and career histories to give recruiters a starting point for their CLAMPS assessment.

Our AI-powered Talent Intelligence Platform can help recruiters quickly gather and analyze candidate information, allowing them to spend more time on the crucial task of understanding each candidate’s unique motivations and needs.

Wrapping up

By moving beyond generic promises of career growth and higher pay, and instead focusing on understanding and addressing candidates’ true motivations, recruiters can significantly improve their outreach effectiveness and placement success rates.

Remember, successful recruiting isn’t just about filling a position — it’s about creating the right match between candidate motivations and job realities. By using the CLAMPS framework and leveraging advanced tools like Loxo’s AI-powered platform, recruiters can elevate their practice and truly become trusted advisors to both candidates and hiring managers.