Social Recruiting

How to Recruit via LinkedIn: A Guide for Recruiters to Find and Hire Candidates Online

How to Recruit via LinkedIn: A Guide for Recruiters to Find and Hire Candidates Online
HireHive Team

HireHive Team

HireHive

Launched in 2002, LinkedIn has grown to be the premier business networking hub on the Internet. Individuals and companies worldwide use LinkedIn daily to connect with other business professionals and candidates. 

  • There are over 900 million members on LinkedIn, and it continues to grow daily, with 242 million of those users located throughout Europe 
  • 61 million people use LinkedIn to search for jobs weekly
  • Organisations with complete LinkedIn pages see 5 times more activity than companies without optimised listings 

You can see more of these statistics here. 

With access to the biggest business-specific networking website, how do recruiters leverage it to find candidates? Here is what you need to know to maximise LinkedIn for recruitment.

LinkedIn for Recruitment

LinkedIn is a powerful platform for recruiting top talent and building a robust professional network. Here's a brief overview of how to leverage LinkedIn effectively for your recruiting efforts

  • Create a Compelling Company Profile
  • Optimise Your Personal Profile
  • Utilise Advanced Search Filters
  • Engage with Relevant Content
  • Join and Manage LinkedIn Groups
  • Post Detailed Job Listings
  • Utilise InMail and Connection Requests
  • Screen and Evaluate Profiles
  • Build Relationships
  • Stay Updated and Adapt

By effectively leveraging LinkedIn's features and tools, you can enhance your recruiting efforts, connect with top-tier talent, and contribute to your organisation's growth and success.

Create a LinkedIn Profile 

Creating an optimised LinkedIn profile as a recruiter is essential to establish a professional online presence and effectively connecting with potential candidates. A well-crafted profile showcases your expertise, experience, and recruiting skills, instilling confidence in candidates who view your profile. An optimised profile demonstrates your commitment to recruitment, making you more credible and approachable. By highlighting your accomplishments, sharing relevant content, and participating in industry discussions, you can attract top talent, expand your network, and ultimately contribute to successful talent acquisition for your organisation.

Creating an optimised LinkedIn profile as a recruiter involves vital elements to effectively showcase your expertise and engage with potential candidates. 

Professional Headline

Craft a concise headline highlighting your role as a recruiter and your specialisation. This helps candidates understand your focus at a glance.

Engaging Summary

Write a compelling summary that outlines your recruiting experience, skills, and passion for connecting talent with opportunities. Showcase your unique approach and emphasise your commitment to helping candidates succeed.

Detailed Experience

List your relevant work experiences, detailing your accomplishments, roles, and responsibilities as a recruiter. Use quantifiable achievements to demonstrate your impact.

Keywords

Incorporate industry-specific keywords and skills in your profile to increase visibility by candidates and hiring managers in relevant searches.

Professional Photo

Choose a high-quality, professional photo that exudes approachability and credibility. A smiling, well-dressed photo can help build trust with potential candidates.

Recommendations

Request and display recommendations from colleagues, candidates, or clients you've worked with. Positive endorsements enhance your credibility.

Projects and Media

Showcase successful recruitment projects, presentations, or media highlighting your expertise and your impact in the field.

Engagement and Content

Regularly share insightful industry content, job openings, and recruitment tips on your feed. Engage with candidates' posts and foster meaningful conversations.

Join Relevant Groups

Participate in LinkedIn groups related to your recruiting focus. Engage in discussions, share knowledge, and expand your network within your niche.

Custom URL

Personalise your LinkedIn URL to include your name or a relevant keyword. This makes your profile easier to share and find.

Contact Information

Ensure your contact details, such as email and phone number, are up-to-date and easily accessible to potential candidates.

Certifications and Education

Highlight any relevant certifications, courses, or educational background that supports your recruiting expertise.

Regular Updates

Keep your profile current by adding new experiences, skills, and achievements as they occur. An up-to-date profile reflects your ongoing involvement in the field.

An optimised LinkedIn profile as a recruiter enhances your brand and helps you connect with suitable candidates, establish meaningful relationships, and contribute effectively to your organisation's talent acquisition strategy.

Create a LinkedIn Business Page

While LinkedIn is best used by individuals to make connections, there is also an advantage to having a robust business page. Establishing an optimised business page on LinkedIn is crucial for companies seeking to enhance their online presence and engage effectively with professionals. A well-constructed business page showcases the organisation's brand, culture, and accomplishments, providing valuable insights to potential clients, partners, and talent. 

A LinkedIn business page can attract a dedicated following and foster meaningful connections by regularly sharing industry updates, thought leadership content, and company news. An optimised page allows businesses to post job openings, enabling targeted recruitment efforts and helping to attract top-tier talent. Overall, a robust LinkedIn business page is an indispensable tool for building credibility, expanding networks, and staying connected within the professional ecosystem.

For recruiters or HR professionals, being able to share information between your company page and personal profile will establish your connection and relevance with the organisation. 

Setting up a LinkedIn Business Profile - Quick Steps:

  • Sign Up or Log In
  • Select "Create a Company Page" and choose the appropriate type (Small Business, Medium to Large Business, Showcase Page)
  • Company Name & Details
  • Profile Photo & Cover Image
  • Write a compelling overview of your company's mission, values, and offerings
  • List key specialties or services your company offers
  • Add relevant hashtags to connect with broader audiences
  • Plan what type of content you'll share (industry news, articles, videos, etc.)
  • Establish a posting schedule to engage your audience consistently
  • Utilise LinkedIn analytics to track page performance and audience engagement
  • Invite employees and colleagues to follow and engage with your page
  • Engage with relevant content and join LinkedIn groups to expand your network
  • Post job openings on your business page to attract potential candidates

Following these steps will establish a robust LinkedIn Business Profile that effectively represents your company, engages your target audience, and contributes to your overall brand visibility and growth.

Why Do You Need Both? 

A personal LinkedIn profile and a business page are essential for a comprehensive and effective online presence. A personal profile allows you to showcase your expertise, connect with professionals, and build relationships within your industry. It establishes you as a credible and approachable representative of your company. 

On the other hand, a business page provides a dedicated platform to highlight your company's brand, culture, and achievements. It offers a centralised hub to share company news, industry insights, and job opportunities. A personal profile and a business page complement each other, enabling you to engage on a personal level, expand your network, and promote your company's offerings to a broader audience, ultimately fostering meaningful connections and driving growth.

Steps for Utilising LinkedIn for Recruitment 

Recruiters and employers can leverage LinkedIn's features and the steps outlined below to find and engage with candidates efficiently.

1. Optimise Personal Profile

Ensure your personal profile is complete, highlighting your role as a recruiter or employer. Showcase your experience, skills, and accomplishments to build credibility.

2. Create a Compelling Business Page

Craft an engaging company page that showcases your brand, culture, and opportunities. Share company news, updates, and job openings regularly.

3. Utilise Advanced Search Filters

Use LinkedIn's advanced search to narrow down candidates based on location, experience, skills, and more. Save relevant searches and set up alerts for new matches.

4. Engage with Content

Share industry insights, job-related content, and company news on your personal and business pages. Engage with potential candidates' posts and discussions to establish connections.

5. Join and Participate in Groups

Join relevant LinkedIn groups to connect with professionals in your industry. Participate in discussions, share insights, and identify potential candidates.

6. Post Detailed Job Listings

Craft informative job listings that outline the role, responsibilities, and qualifications. Share job openings on both your personal and business pages.

7. Utilise InMail and Connection Requests

Send personalised InMail messages to potential candidates, highlighting your opportunity's value. Send connection requests with tailored messages to establish rapport.

8. Screen Profiles Thoroughly

Review candidates' profiles, experiences, endorsements, and recommendations. Use LinkedIn's tools or request additional information to assess suitability.

9. Build Relationships

Establish genuine connections with candidates, even if they're not an immediate fit. Cultivate relationships for future opportunities.

10. Stay Updated and Adapt

Regularly update your personal and business profiles with relevant content. Adapt your approach based on market trends and candidate feedback.

11. Use Paid Solutions

Consider LinkedIn Recruiter or other premium services for enhanced search capabilities and outreach.

By seamlessly integrating personal and business profiles, recruiters and employers can effectively identify, engage, and build relationships with potential candidates, ensuring a robust talent acquisition strategy and contributing to their organisations' growth. 

Integrate Your ATS with Social Media 

The best part about living in the future is all the access to technology that can make our lives easier. That's just as true for recruiting. A comprehensive software package like HireHive can allow you to integrate your social media directly into your systems. It makes it easier to push posts and messages out to your network. 

You don't have to go it alone. Investing in the right software gives you the structure and framework to manage talent and what you have to offer. Using a system to help you track and hire top talent is the first step in the process. 

With more competition for top talent, it pays for companies to consider all their advantages and the use of tools to assist in the quest to find talent. HireHive helps busy people hire great people. You can post jobs, streamline your online application process, improve the candidate experience, and tap into vast global networks by having your entire recruitment process in one place. 

Set up a free trial account today. Contact HireHive to learn more.

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