As most recruiters know, searching for the best job candidates can become costly in both dollars and time.  But the type of candidate a recruiter pursues can affect the amount of resources required to find the right match for just about any job opportunity. In recruiting, there are generally two types of candidates: active candidates and passive candidates. 
      Because they are currently unemployed, active candidates are often aggressively searching for a job and their decision-making process is often driven by the need to find a job. This type of candidate (active) usually sends out many resumes and responds to many job postings.  Because recruiters process volumes of resumes, it can often take a lot of time to identify the best active candidates; but because of the active candidate's aggressive job search the best candidates have often found other employment by the time the recruiter contacts them. This is why when a recruiter focuses the majority of his/her energy on active candidates he/she often expends more time and money finding the right match for a job opportunity.
      Then there is the passive candidate, who is usually employed and not looking for a job. They are not sending out resumes, checking job boards or visiting career sites. This is the candidate that you seek out because they are a perfect fit for the job you are seeking to fill.  If a recruiter focuses on and attracts passive candidates he/she can save time and money by getting access to the most qualified candidates quickly.