How to Use LinkedIn Like a Top Recruiter

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The recruitment industry has been around for quite some time. Even with all the ups and downs of the ever-changing job market, recruiters now perform their matchmaking duties more efficiently, thanks to some of the amazing tools now available.

We’ve come a long way from using the yellow pages, and one of the most outstanding professional resources is LinkedIn, which about 87% of recruiters use regularly.

Let’s run through some additional stats real quick:

• More than 750 million professionals use LinkedIn.
• The popular career-focused network site hosts more than 310 million monthly active users.
• 45 million of those users are job seekers on LinkedIn that actively search for job opportunities on a weekly basis.
• Along with over 65 million decision-makers who are scoping the talent pool.
• And more than 14 million open job listings await responses from the right hire.

Needless to say, when using a tool like LinkedIn, recruiters can sometimes feel like a little fish in an enormous pond. But the truth of the matter is, even the best recruiters can have difficulty finding what they’re looking for if they’re unsure how or where to start.

There are always opportunities to master your craft in the recruitment industry, and using any tool like an expert recruiter takes practice. 

How to use LinkedIn as a top recruiter

Here are some tips for getting the most out of the unmatched professional tool that is LinkedIn.

1. Making Connections

Top recruiters don’t use LinkedIn to network like they would on personal social media outlets. And on this platform, real connections can lead to real results. 

Having a lot of connections on LinkedIn can look appealing, but big picture networking means considering how each connection can impact your career goals in the present and over time. 

For instance, the right approach to forming professional connections can lead to long-term relationships that open the door to referrals down the line. 

Consider connecting with people as you would in a natural professional setting rather than a virtual one: 

• If you’re sending a connection request, include a message with some context or, at the very least, a friendly hello. 
• If you’re on the receiving end, thank the LinkedIn user for extending an offer to be part of their network. Taking the time to begin a business relationship with warmth and charm will be remembered.

Sending and accepting connection requests is only the first step. Where cyberstalking may be frowned upon when it comes to exs, digging deeper into your LinkedIn connections’ history, businesses they follow, and connections they’ve made to expand your network further is highly encouraged. 

The ‘links’ you add ‘in’ to your network will affect your suggestions for future connections, which can either help or be a real pain for recruiters looking for top talent. Give some attention to the upkeep needed and perhaps think twice about making too many connections with your own organization or competitors. 

2. Responsible Participation

Not all professionals on LinkedIn are interested in finding a job. But that doesn’t mean that recruiters should dismiss interacting with them. Recruiters have an opportunity to be who professionals turn to when looking for thought leaders or industry experts.

Try to remember that LinkedIn is a professional platform where industry and career-focused information is expected to be exchanged. To impactfully participate in industry-directed conversations, dedicate some time to social listening. Observing the dialogues your LinkedIn connections, and even your competition, are engaged in can give you a better picture of the issues your future candidates or clients are invested in or concerned about. 

With this learned insight, you can share content tailored to subjects your audience is interested in and want to learn about.

Beware, fostering trust within your network through content is a gamble if you’re only interested in headline hunting. 

If you’re going to share an article or post written by someone else, make sure you read the material yourself, that way if asked to share opinions or add to the discussion you’re not left to google on-the-fly responses.

3. Search Strategy

Simply having a LinkedIn account isn’t quite enough when trying to establish a virtual presence in the workforce. After setting the groundwork with connections and activity in your LinkedIn community, it’s time to put the way you approach searching under the microscope.

Searching goes two ways: 

• The first and most obvious is a recruiter’s search for quality candidates. Which could begin with job postings and sending messages to top talent that could potentially match the openings you’re trying to fill. 
• The second type of searching is more closely related to how job seekers find you. Standing out and being sought for help on a candidate’s job search or career change is next-level recruitment.

No matter the tool you’re using, whether it be LinkedIn, LinkedIn Recruiter, or any other platform when making search inquiries, most tools have the same starting point. The end result can make all the difference and, to get to that point, you should keep one thing in mind:

When searching for top talent and making it easier for top talent to search for you, you need to be strategic. 

Begin your searches with tags, past companies, schools, and experience of all-star candidates to find “look-alike” talent. Bank on the fact that the companies you’re working with may already have exceptional employees. Matching similar backgrounds with new talent can speed up your search.

As for being found, it’s unlikely that job seekers will have a recruiter pipeline in the works, so self-marketing with the right keywords in your bio and title can greatly influence LinkedIn users. However, a word of caution: be honest and upfront with who you are and what assistance you can provide. Otherwise, as soon as you’ve gained trust, that trust can be lost.

The takeaway

Time and effort are needed to build up the virtual reputation of a top recruiter effectively. Making strong LinkedIn connections and sharing valuable content reinforces the value you bring to players in the working world. And leveraging on the use of keywords in your search process as well as throughout your LinkedIn profile can help you better filter through prospects and help you stand out.

As mentioned earlier, even the best recruiters need help every now and then. If you want to become a recruiter or are looking for the right recruitment opportunity, consider the training and support of a career with gpac.