Candidate Search (Premium subscription):
Candidate Search is a powerful feature that opens up Tes’s database of teaching professionals for you to proactively search and invite them to your jobs. Essentially, instead of waiting for candidates to apply, you can go find them.
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Tes (with Schrole) has a database of over 200,000 candidates globally. Candidate Search lets you filter this database by various criteria such as subject expertise, years of experience, location preference, curriculum experience (IB, British, American, etc.), and more.
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You can then view profiles and even reach out to candidates who look promising – for example, sending a message and an invitation to apply to your vacancy.
There are two ways to access Candidate Search in the platform:
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From the main Connect dashboard: There might be a toggle or menu item on the left-hand side of the recruitment page that says Candidate Search. For instance, on the left navigation, below the list of vacancy sections, you may see “Candidate Search”. Clicking this will open the Candidate Search interface (often replacing the main view with search filters).
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From within a vacancy: When looking at a specific job’s Applications tab, you might see a button or link that says “Search candidates for this role” or an “Invite candidates” option. This is another entry point which often will take you to Candidate Search but pre-filtered for that role’s criteria. In some interfaces, there’s a toggle on the Applications page for Candidate Search, which when switched on, displays the search filters panel.
Using Candidate Search:
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Once you’re in the Candidate Search interface, you’ll see a Filter panel. Here you can set parameters to narrow down candidates: for example, filter by location (where candidates are or where they want to work), years of experience, subjects they teach, leadership experience, availability date, etc. Use as many filters as needed to get a manageable list.
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After setting filters, the results will show anonymous profiles matching those criteria. You’ll typically see an overview like current role, skills, maybe a short bio, but not the name (to protect privacy).
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Click on a profile to view more details. Full names are usually hidden until you engage with the candidate. However, you can see their CV or work history to decide if they are a good fit.
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Messaging candidates: If you find someone you like, you can send them a message through the platform. For example, a message could introduce your school and mention the vacancy, inviting them to take a look or apply. When you send a message, the candidate will receive it via email and in their Tes account. If they reply or apply, then their identity is revealed to you (you’ll see their name once they respond).
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Inviting to apply: Some systems let you directly send an “Invite to apply” for a specific vacancy. This might be a part of the messaging function – you could select your job from a list and the candidate will get a link to that job advert.
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You can also save candidates to a talent pool or shortlist within Candidate Search if you’re not ready to contact them yet but want to keep them in mind.
Accessing Candidate Search from the main menu – toggle to Candidate Search to open the search filters.
Candidate Search results: filter by criteria, browse profiles, and click into details.
Candidate profile view (name hidden). Options to Save or Message the candidate are available.
A few notes on Candidate Search usage:
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Candidates will not know you viewed their profile until you choose to contact them. Feel free to browse as many profiles as needed.
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The system might limit how many new candidates you can contact per day to prevent spam, so make your messages count. Usually, contacting a reasonable number is fine.
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When a candidate replies to you, they often will appear in your Candidate Search conversations or could even be added to the Applications list if they directly applied.
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Remember that candidates might be in different time zones (since international). Be patient for responses.
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If a candidate isn’t interested and doesn’t respond, it’s good practice not to send multiple follow-ups through the system. Focus on those who engage back.
Using these add-ons effectively can significantly enhance your recruitment: Targeted Advertising brings more eyes to your advert, Managed Recruitment gives you expert help, and Candidate Search lets you actively headhunt from a large pool of educators.
