Why Outbound Hiring Wins in Creative Recruitment

If your hiring strategy still relies on job ads, here’s the honest truth: you’re probably missing the people you actually want to hire.

Because the best creatives?

They’re not applying.
They’re not polishing up their résumés.
And they’re definitely not scrolling LinkedIn looking for “the next thing.”

They’re already doing great work—leading teams, building brands, launching campaigns. These people don’t move for just any job. But they will move for the right opportunity, if it’s delivered with care and context.

And that’s where outbound hiring—and the right creative recruitment agency—comes in.

Why Job Ads Don’t Work for Creative Recruitment

Job ads still have their place. They’re quick. They’re scalable. And for certain roles, they get results.

But if you’re hiring for a Head of Strategy, a Social Lead, a standout Designer, or a creative team that challenges the brief—posting a job ad is like casting a net in the wrong ocean.

You might find someone. But chances are, it won’t be the person you really want.

At best, you’ll attract the most available candidates. Not the most aligned. And definitely not the ones already shaping great work somewhere else.

This is where many agencies and brands fall short in the creative recruitment process. They rely too heavily on inbound interest and miss out on passive candidates—the people who aren’t looking, but could be persuaded to move.

The People Place Approach: Outbound and People-First

At The People Place, we’re a creative recruitment agency based in Melbourne and Sydney. And we do things a little differently.

Instead of waiting for the right candidate to come to us, we go out and find them.

Here’s what outbound, people-first recruitment looks like:

• We build long-term relationships with top creatives across Australia—many of whom aren’t actively looking for work.

• We follow their careers, celebrate their wins, and understand what they’d move for.

• We approach them directly and respectfully—no spammy LinkedIn messages or generic cold calls.

• We don’t just match skills. We match values, energy, ambition, and vision.

It’s slower than running an ad—but it’s infinitely more effective. Because we’re not just filling roles. We’re creating meaningful connections between good people and good places.

Real Story: No Ad, No Problem

We were recently briefed on a Senior Designer role in Melbourne. The agency was growing fast and needed someone with a strong design voice—someone who could lead, deliver, and collaborate across disciplines.

We didn’t post the role.
We didn’t run a campaign.
We didn’t wait.

Instead, we reached out to a designer we’d known for a while. We’d seen her work evolve over the years, stayed in touch, and understood what she was looking for (even though she wasn’t actively job hunting).

One call. One meeting. One portfolio walkthrough later—and she was in.

She started nine days after we made the introduction. And she’s thriving there.

That’s the power of outbound hiring done right.

Why Passive Candidates Are Often Your Best Creative Hires

If you’re not reaching passive candidates, you’re missing a massive part of the creative talent pool.

These candidates:

• Are embedded in agency or brand culture.

• Are leading teams or developing award-winning campaigns.

• Haven’t been ghosted by recruiters or burnt out by job boards.

• Bring clarity, confidence, and curiosity to the table.

• Want purpose, not just a pay bump.

They’re not job hunting—but they’re open. Especially when the opportunity feels like a natural next step, not a random reach-out.

At The People Place, we’ve built trust with these creatives. They answer our calls, they read our messages, and when we say we’ve got something worth their time—they listen.

We Know the Industry—Because We’ve Been In It

The People Place was founded by people who’ve actually worked in creative roles. From agency operations to production, content, and people leadership—we get it.

We’ve led teams. We’ve hired. We’ve grown businesses.

So when we’re briefed on a role, we don’t just read the spec—we understand the nuance behind it.

That’s why:

• We move fast, but don’t rush.

• We ask the right questions—of both candidates and clients.

• We only send people who make sense—creatively, culturally, and commercially.

Why Outbound Hiring Works for Creative Recruitment in Melbourne & Sydney

Creative markets in Australia—especially in Melbourne and Sydney—are competitive. The best people get snapped up fast. And often, they’re not even on the market.

That’s why your recruitment partner needs to be proactive, not passive.

Outbound hiring gives you access to the hidden market. It’s where the right candidates are—not just the available ones.

And when you partner with a creative recruitment agency that knows how to do this properly (hint: us), you get real outcomes—not just résumés.

Let’s Rethink Creative Recruitment—Together

If you’ve been posting ads and not seeing the right people come through—maybe it’s time to change your approach.

At The People Place, we combine deep industry knowledge with long-term relationships to help you find the creatives you actually want in the room.

Whether you’re hiring in Melbourne, Sydney, or anywhere across Australia, we’ve got you.

We’re here for the quiet achievers, the culture drivers, the creatives who move for the right reasons.

Let’s find them—together.

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]
🌐 Learn more: peopleplace.com.au