Getting Started
Custom Sources allow you to track exactly where your applications come from by creating unique email addresses and URLs for different recruitment channels. This is particularly useful for offline events, partnerships, external campaigns, and measuring ROI across different recruitment activities.
What Are Custom Sources?
Custom Sources enable you to:
Create unique email addresses - Generate trackable email addresses for receiving applications
Generate unique URLs - Create shareable links for specific channels
Track application sources - Know exactly where each application comes from
Measure channel performance - Compare effectiveness of different recruitment methods
Calculate ROI - Understand which channels deliver the best candidates
How Custom Sources Work
The Process
You create a custom source with a descriptive name
System generates a unique email address and URL
You share the email or URL through your chosen channel
Applications received are automatically tagged with that source
You can track performance and compare channels
What Gets Tracked
When a candidate applies through a custom source:
Their application is tagged with the source name
You can see which channel they came from
Source data appears in reporting
You can compare performance across sources
Creating a Custom Source
Accessing Custom Sources
Custom Sources are created during vacancy creation or editing:
Navigate to the Vacancy Destinations step
Scroll to Candidates By Email Source section
Click Add Source
Step 1: Enter Source Name
Choose a clear, descriptive name that identifies the channel:
Good naming examples:
"Career Fair Manchester Nov 2025"
"University Partnership Leeds"
"Guardian Print Ad December"
"LinkedIn Sponsored Q1"
"Alumni Network Referrals"
"Tech Conference London"
Poor naming examples:
"Source 1"
"Test"
"Email"
"Campaign"
"Misc"
Step 2: Generate Email Address
Click the Generate button
System creates a unique email address automatically
Email format:
es_[encoded]@[domain]This email is unique to this vacancy and source
Step 3: Add the Source
Review the generated email address
Click Add Source to confirm
Source appears in your list
Repeat to create multiple sources for different channels
Step 4: Copy and Use
Click the copy icon next to the email address
Email is copied to your clipboard
Share via your chosen recruitment channel
Applications sent to this email are automatically tracked
Finding Your Custom Source URLs
After publishing your vacancy:
Open the vacancy details
Navigate to Vacancy Links tab
Your custom sources appear in the list with their URLs
Click any URL to view the application page
Share these URLs externally
The URLs include tracking parameters that automatically identify the source when candidates apply.
Custom Source Use Cases
Recruitment Events
Track applications from in-person events:
Career Fairs:
Create separate sources for each event
Compare performance between locations
Track conversion from attendance to applications
Example: "Career Fair London March" vs "Career Fair Birmingham March"
University Recruitment:
Track each university separately
Compare which universities deliver best candidates
Measure partnership effectiveness
Example: "Uni Manchester Partnership" vs "Uni Leeds Partnership"
Open Days:
Measure attendance to application conversion
Track which events generate most interest
Calculate event ROI
Networking Events:
Track professional network referrals
Measure industry event effectiveness
Compare different networking channels
External Partnerships
Monitor referrals from various partners:
University Partnerships:
Track each university's performance
Compare graduate quality by institution
Measure partnership ROI
Recruitment Agencies:
Track each agency separately
Compare agency performance and quality
Measure cost-effectiveness
Industry Associations:
Track association member referrals
Measure industry network effectiveness
Partner Companies:
Monitor cross-company referrals
Track employee referral programs
Offline Advertising
Measure traditional advertising effectiveness:
Print Advertisements:
Track newspaper ads with unique URLs
Compare different publications
Measure print advertising ROI
Example: "Guardian Ad Dec 2025" vs "Telegraph Ad Dec 2025"
Flyers and Posters:
Use QR codes linking to custom URLs
Track local campaign effectiveness
Measure physical advertising impact
Business Cards:
Include custom URL or email
Track networking effectiveness
Measure personal outreach
Direct Mail:
Track postal campaign responses
Measure direct mail ROI
Compare with digital channels
Paid Advertising Campaigns
Compare different paid channels and strategies:
Platform Comparison:
"Indeed Sponsored Campaign"
"LinkedIn Sponsored Campaign"
"Facebook Ads Q1"
Compare which platform delivers best ROI
A/B Testing:
Create different sources for different ad variations
Test different job descriptions
Compare different messaging approaches
Optimize based on results
Campaign Tracking:
Track seasonal campaigns
Compare time-based performance
Measure campaign effectiveness over time
Employee Referrals
Track internal referral programs:
"Employee Referral Program"
"Department Manager Referrals"
"Sales Team Referrals"
Measure internal network effectiveness
Using Custom Sources Effectively
Sharing Email Addresses
Direct Sharing:
Provide to recruitment partners
Include in partnership agreements
Share with event organizers
Give to university career services
Physical Materials:
Add to flyers and brochures
Include on posters
Print on business cards
Add to direct mail pieces
Digital Channels:
Include in email signatures
Add to newsletters
Share in partner communications
Sharing URLs
Social Media:
Post on company social profiles
Share in relevant groups
Include in social campaigns
QR Codes:
Generate QR codes from URLs
Add to printed materials
Use at events and fairs
Include on posters
Email Marketing:
Include in email campaigns
Add to newsletters
Share in partner emails
Print Advertising:
Include in newspaper ads
Add to magazine advertisements
Print on promotional materials
Benefits of Custom Sources
Accurate Attribution
Know exactly where each candidate came from
No guesswork about channel effectiveness
Clear audit trail for applications
Reliable source data for decision-making
Performance Measurement
Compare different recruitment channels
Identify your best-performing sources
Track trends over time
Make data-driven decisions
ROI Calculation
Measure cost per application by channel
Calculate quality of hire by source
Optimize recruitment budget allocation
Identify most cost-effective channels
Strategic Planning
Inform future recruitment strategies
Focus resources on effective channels
Eliminate underperforming sources
Build evidence-based recruitment plans
Flexibility
Works for any recruitment channel
Equally effective online and offline
Adaptable to any industry or role type
No technical setup required
Managing Custom Sources
During Vacancy Creation
Adding Sources:
Create as many sources as needed
Add sources for all planned channels
Set up before launching campaigns
Multiple Sources:
No limit on number of sources per vacancy
Create separate source for each distinct channel
Use different sources for A/B testing
Removing Sources:
Click remove if no longer needed
Remove before publishing if changed strategy
Clean up unused sources
After Publishing
Viewing Performance:
Check application source in candidate details
Review which sources generate most applications
Compare candidate quality by source
Accessing URLs:
Find all URLs in Vacancy Links tab
Share URLs as campaigns launch
Copy URLs for different materials
Tracking Applications:
All applications show their source
Filter candidates by source if needed
Report on source performance
Best Practices
Naming Strategy
Be Specific and Descriptive:
Include channel type
Add location if relevant
Include date for time-based campaigns
Make names easily distinguishable
Use Consistent Format:
Establish naming convention
Use same structure across campaigns
Makes reporting easier
Simplifies analysis
Include Key Details:
Channel name
Campaign or event name
Date or time period
Location if applicable
Examples:
"Career Fair - London - March 2025"
"University Partnership - Manchester"
"Print Ad - Guardian - Dec 2025"
"Sponsored - LinkedIn - Q1 2025"
Campaign Management
Plan Ahead:
Create sources before launching campaigns
Set up before events or ads go live
Prepare sources for scheduled campaigns
One Source Per Channel:
Don't mix channels in one source
Create separate sources for each distinct channel
Enables accurate performance comparison
Track Consistently:
Use sources for all external channels
Don't skip source creation
Maintain complete data
Review Regularly:
Check source performance weekly
Compare across campaigns
Identify trends early
Optimisation
Test and Learn:
A/B test different channels
Compare similar sources
Identify what works best
Focus Resources:
Invest more in high-performing sources
Reduce spend on underperforming channels
Optimise budget allocation
Document Learnings:
Note which sources work best
Record insights for future campaigns
Build institutional knowledge
Troubleshooting
Can't See Add Source Button
Check:
You're in the Vacancy Destinations step
You're creating or editing a vacancy
Page has loaded completely
Solution:
Refresh the page
Try a different browser
Contact support if issue persists
Generate Button Not Working
Try:
Check internet connection
Ensure source name is entered
Refresh the page
Clear browser cache
Can't Find Custom Source URLs
Remember:
URLs only available after vacancy is published
Found in Vacancy Links tab
Must be on vacancy details page
Steps:
Open published vacancy
Navigate to Vacancy Links tab
Scroll to custom sources section
URLs listed with source names
Applications Not Being Tracked
Verify:
Vacancy is published
Candidates using correct email/URL
Source was added before publishing
No typos in shared email/URL
Test:
Send test application yourself
Verify source appears in candidate details
Contact support if tracking not working
Need to Change Source Name
Process:
Remove existing source
Add new source with correct name
Note: Creates new email and URL
Update any shared materials
FAQ
How many custom sources can I create?
As many as you need. There's no hard limit - create separate sources for every distinct recruitment channel.
Do custom sources cost extra?
No. Custom sources are included with your talentATS subscription at no additional cost.
Can I reuse source names across vacancies?
Yes, but each vacancy generates unique emails and URLs. Use consistent naming across vacancies for easier comparison in reporting.
What happens to old custom sources?
They remain associated with their vacancy. Applications received continue to be tracked. Historical data is preserved.
Can I delete a custom source?
You can remove sources during vacancy creation/editing. Once applications are received, source data is preserved for reporting even if you remove the source.
Do I need to create sources before publishing?
Yes. Create sources before publishing so URLs are generated when the vacancy goes live. You can add more sources later by editing the vacancy.
Will candidates see the source name?
No. The source name is internal for your tracking only. Candidates just see the normal application form.
Need Help?
Questions about Custom Sources?
Click "Need Help?" in your profile dropdown menu
Contact support for strategy advice
Get help with campaign setup
Assistance with tracking issues
Custom Sources give you complete visibility into your recruitment channels. Track everything, measure what matters, and optimize your recruitment strategy with data.