This article is for administrators.
You must have administrator access to Recruiting or be assigned a role on the job.
Learn what Candidate Types mean in Recruiting. This admin guide explains passive and job seeker types, where they appear in Applicant Tracking, and how to choose the right type for each job applicant.
- Go to People > Hiring > Applicant Tracking to open the Recruiting platform.
- Select a job title.
- Select a candidate to open the candidate's profile page.
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Select the candidate information icon next to the candidate’s name.
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Locate the Candidate Type field in the pop-up box, under the Candidate Info tab.
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Select the appropriate Candidate Type based on how the candidate was sourced.
- Locate the Source/Referrer field in the pop-up box, under the Candidate Info tab.
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Select the appropriate source or referrer for the candidate.
- Select Save.
The following Candidate Types are available in Recruiting:
Passive candidate types
Passive candidates are candidates that you are pursuing but may not be aware they are being recruited for a position at your company.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Target |
These are candidates you are actively seeking.
|
| Confidential Resume |
Candidates can upload an anonymous resume on job boards so their current employer does not know they are looking for a new job.
|
| Employee Lead |
These are potential candidates who are identified by an employee.
|
| Other | Use for passive candidates who do not fit in any of the above types. |
Job seeker candidate types
Job Seekers are candidates who are pursuing a job. They have found one of your job postings on your Careers page or a job board, and they have applied or are actively seeking a job.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Resume Bank | Candidate found in a resume repository, like a college resume bank for new graduates. |
| Site Applicant |
Candidates who apply through your company website.
|
| Internal Referral |
Candidates who were referred by an employee.
|
| Gravity Referral |
Candidates who applied via a Gravity link.
|
| Posting Response |
Candidates who respond to a job board posting.
|
| Agency Resume |
Candidates who are provided through a recruiting agency.
|
| Other | Job seeker candidates who do not fit in a type mentioned above. |
The following Sources are available in Recruiting:
- Company Website: Candidates who apply directly to a job posting via your Careers Page.
- Internal Applicant: Candidates who apply directly to an internally posted job.
- Search Engine: Candidates who apply through one of our integrated job boards.
- Smart Sourced: Candidates who are recruited through our Smart Sourcing feature.
These are integrated sources and cannot be disabled or deleted. If you require additional Sources, these can be created by an Admin in the Company Settings Sources section. 
Results
After you assign a candidate type and/or Source, the system categorizes the candidate and displays the type and source on the candidate’s profile.
Use these fields to track where your most qualified candidates come from. Candidate Type and Source are reportable fields in Recruiting.
You will also find Candidate Type and Source in Analytics to identify top-performing sources.
Relevant articles
- candidate definitions
- job applicant types
- passive versus active
- job seekers
- active seekers
- passive job candidates
- what are candidate type definitions in recruiting?
- candidate types
- candidate sources
- applicant source
- passive candidates
- candidate source
- recruiting target
- site applicant
- posting response
- agency resume
- internal referral
- candidate referrer
Updated: August 25th, 2026 7616 views 0 likes
*This content is for educational purposes only, is not intended to provide specific legal advice, and should not be used as a substitute for the legal advice of a qualified attorney or other professional. The information may not reflect the most current legal developments, may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct, or up-to-date.