A passive candidate is someone who is not actively seeking a job but who could be persuaded to apply for an open position. For example, a passive candidate might be someone who is happy in their current job but who would be interested in a job that pays more money or offers better career prospects.

Passive candidates can be a good source of new hires because they are already employed and therefore likely to be high-quality candidates. However, it can be difficult to identify passive candidates and to convince them to apply for a job.