How to Recruit on LinkedIn: The Right and Wrong Ways

Wondering how to recruit on LinkedIn the right way? We’ve got you covered.
When you think of recruitment, LinkedIn immediately comes to mind. Naturally, as a recruiter or employer, you will need to learn how to recruit on LinkedIn. It seems straightforward. After all, LinkedIn is a social platform designed for professional networking. However, there are right and wrong ways to go about recruitment on LinkedIn. Before you learn how to recruit on LinkedIn, you need to know why you would recruit on LinkedIn. It’s at the top of the list for many recruiters and for good reason.
LinkedIn is a powerful platform with over 830 million users worldwide. That’s a lot of potential candidates! Not only that, but LinkedIn is full of professionals who are actively seeking new opportunities. In fact, LinkedIn is the number one platform for job seekers.
How To Recruit On LinkedIn: The Right Way
LinkedIn is the number one social media platform for recruitment. It’s no wonder, then, that many recruiters and employers struggle with how to recruit on LinkedIn. After all, LinkedIn is a professional networking site – not a job board. With that in mind, there are right and wrong ways to go about LinkedIn recruiting. Before we get into how to recruit on LinkedIn, let’s first take a look at why you would want to do so in the first place.
There are a few key reasons why LinkedIn is such an attractive platform for recruiters. First, LinkedIn boasts a massive user base – over 800 million members in 200 countries and counting. Second, LinkedIn is full of highly-skilled professionals who are actively seeking new opportunities. In fact, LinkedIn is the number one platform for job seekers. Finally, LinkedIn provides recruiters with a wealth of tools and resources to help them find and connect with the best talent.
How To Use LinkedIn Effectively To Recruit
Now that we know why LinkedIn is such a valuable recruiting tool, let’s take a look at how to use it effectively. The first step is to create a strong profile. Your profile is your personal brand on LinkedIn. It’s how you present yourself to the LinkedIn community. It’s also how you attract top talent to your company.
Tips For Hiring On LinkedIn
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when recruiting on LinkedIn:
– Company Page
Create a LinkedIn Company Page for your business. This is a great way to promote your company culture and values, as well as job openings. LinkedIn members can follow your Company Page to stay up-to-date on news and events happening at your company.
– Share Content
Make sure to share relevant and interesting content on your Company Page. This could be blog posts, articles, infographics, or even just updates on what’s going on at your company. By sharing engaging content, you’ll attract more followers and help build a positive reputation for your company.
– LinkedIn Groups
Join groups that are relevant to your industry and participate in the discussions. This is a great way to build relationships with other professionals and get your name out there. You can also use groups to post job openings and find potential candidates.
– Announcement Content
If you have any announcements, such as a new product launch or an event, be sure to share them on your Company Page. You can also use LinkedIn Announcements to promote job openings, new hires, or company news.
– LinkedIn Ads
You can use LinkedIn Ads to target potential candidates with specific job titles, skills, or locations. LinkedIn Ads are a great way to reach out to passive candidates who might not be actively looking for a new job but would be open to the right opportunity.
Remember, an Ad is different from a ‘job post’ because they allow you to target a specific audience with a call-to-action.
Promote Your Company Culture
Your LinkedIn Company Page is the perfect place to show off your company culture. Use photos and videos to give potential candidates a glimpse into what it’s like to work at your company. You can also use this space to share your company values, mission, and goals.
Publish Articles
You can use LinkedIn Pulse to publish articles or whitepapers. This is a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your industry and build thought leadership. You can also use this platform to share company news, such as new product launches, awards, or milestones achieved.
How To Find Talent On Linked In
There are a few different ways that you can find potential candidates on LinkedIn.
– InMail Messages
InMail messages are private messages that you can send to any LinkedIn member, even if you’re not connected to them. InMail messages are a great way to reach out to potential candidates who you think would be a good fit for the job but who might not be actively looking for a new opportunity.
– Use Boolean Search
You can use LinkedIn’s search bar to find potential candidates by using what’s called Boolean search. Boolean search is a type of advanced search that allows you to combine keywords with operators (such as AND, OR, and NOT) to narrow down your results.
– Join Relevant Groups
There are LinkedIn groups for just about everything, and chances are there are groups for your industry, or at least for professionals in the same field as the candidates you’re looking for. Joining relevant LinkedIn groups is a great way to connect with potential candidates, as well as get insights into what they’re talking about and thinking about.
– Post Jobs on LinkedIn
You can post jobs on LinkedIn, and candidates can apply directly from your LinkedIn job listing. This is a great way to reach passive candidates who might not be actively looking for a job but would be open to the right opportunity.
What are The Right And Wrong Ways To Recruit On LinkedIn?
Now that you know how to recruit on LinkedIn, let’s talk about the right and wrong ways to go about it. Here are examples of each:
Example #1
The Wrong Way: Spammy InMail
Don’t send unsolicited InMails to potential candidates. This is the equivalent of spamming someone’s inbox and will likely do more harm than good. Not only will the recipient be annoyed, but they’ll also be less likely to consider your company as a potential employer.
The Right Way: Personalized InMail
When you reach out to potential candidates, make sure to personalize your InMail. Mention something that you have in common or why you think they would be a good fit for the position. This will show that you’re interested in them as a person, not just a potential employee.
Example #2
The Wrong Way: Generic Connection Requests
When you send a connection request, make sure to include a personal message. A generic connection request is likely to be ignored or even deleted. However, if you take the time to write a personal message, you’re more likely to get a response.
The Right Way: Use Keywords
When you’re searching for potential candidates, make sure to use keywords. LinkedIn allows you to search for specific keywords, so you can find people with the skills and experience that you’re looking for.
Example #3
The Wrong Way: Posting Jobs Without Context
When you post a job on LinkedIn, make sure to include some context. A job posting without any context is likely to be ignored. However, if you take the time to write a few sentences about the job and what you’re looking for, you’re more likely to get responses from qualified candidates.
The Right Way: Engage in Groups
LinkedIn groups are a great way to connect with potential candidates. When you join a group, you can participate in discussions and get to know other members. This is a great way to build relationships with potential candidates and learn more about their skills and experience.
Example #4
The Wrong Way: Send Connection Requests to Everyone
When you’re trying to build your LinkedIn network, it can be tempting to send connection requests to everyone. However, this is not the best way to recruit on LinkedIn. When you send too many connection requests, you come across as pushy and desperate. This is not the impression you want to give potential candidates.
The Right Way: Use LinkedIn InMail
LinkedIn InMail is a great way to reach out to potential candidates. With LinkedIn InMail, you can send messages to anyone, even if you’re not connected. This is a great way to get in touch with potential candidates and start a conversation.
When you’re recruiting on LinkedIn, it’s important to remember that you’re talking to real people. This may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many recruiters forget this. When you’re sending InMails, take the time to personalize each message. Mention something that you saw on the person’s profile that caught your eye. This will show that you’re interested in them as a person, not just a candidate.
The Takeaways
The key to successful LinkedIn recruiting is to be personal and professional. Remember, this is a social platform for networking. If you treat it like a job board, you’ll miss out on the opportunity to build relationships with talented candidates.
So, how can you be personal and professional when recruiting on LinkedIn? First, take the time to read someone’s profile before reaching out to them. This will give you a better understanding of their work experience and what they’re looking for in their next role.
Second, when you do reach out, make sure to personalize your message. Mention something from their profile or how you could see them being a valuable asset to your team.
Finally, don’t be afraid to connect with candidates on LinkedIn before extending an offer. This is a great way to build rapport and get to know them on a personal level.
Now that you know the dos and don’ts of recruiting on LinkedIn, put them into practice and see how they work for you. With a little effort, you’ll be able to find top talent in no time.
Happy recruiting!