Do recruiters really use LinkedIn?

Do recruiters really use LinkedIn?

Author
Discussion

Ollie123

Original Poster:

121 posts

153 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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I can see how LinkedIn could be of use when headhunting a high flyer, but a former colleague of mine who worked in our lowly support department has recently got a new job (and significantly more rewarded) by a recruiter getting in touch through his profile.

Unless I’m severely out of touch, why would a recruiter spend time trolling through LinkedIn when no doubt they get dozens of applicants through their normal channels?

I don’t have a LinkedIn profile because I don’t see how it would benefit of me, plus I like the idea of my name not coming up in a Google search however if there’s a chance of a job offer then I may reconsider.

Piersman2

6,596 posts

198 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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Doesn't your own post answer your own question?

I use linked in primarily to keep in contact with decent former colleagues as I move contracts. I have a steady stream of agencies asking to connect to my profile, occasionally with a job they are trying to fill.

So the answer is yes, very much so these days.

MrsMiggins

2,808 posts

234 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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In my experience companies are using the site to find their own recruits, rather than paying a recruitment co to do it for them.

I've been contacted through LinkedIn by recruiters and employers directly.

MintSprint

335 posts

113 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
quotequote all
Ollie123 said:
Unless I’m severely out of touch, why would a recruiter spend time trolling through LinkedIn when no doubt they get dozens of applicants through their normal channels?
Possibly because it allows them to headhunt the best candidates.

The dozens of applicants they get through their normal channels are the ones who are looking for new jobs, which means their current employers don't value them highly enough to be trying to keep hold of them?

Also, my experience on the other side (looking for employees) is that the pool of talent to meet a very specific requirement isn't as big as you might think - usually you'll only get two or three candidates who are a really good match to your requirements, and mostly they are being touted by several employment agents at the same time, because if they're actively looking for work, they will be signed up to several agencies. LinkedIn gives recruiters the opportunity to head-hunt optimal candidates that the competition might be unaware of.

Certainly, I've been contacted several times recently by recruiters looking at my profile on linked-in, and in one of the several instances, I was sufficiently tempted to attend an interview despite the fact that I'm happy where I am at the moment and am not actively looking for a new job.


Gargamel

14,958 posts

260 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
quotequote all
Hi, I am a company recruiter, ie not agency but in house.

I don't "trawl " LinkedIn, but I do use it. The search function, knowing which companies have people with the right skills, or have joined certain groups etc all help.

Additional the system will suggest people who are similar to people so actually you can build a least quite quickly.

Their is. seperate licensed version sold to recruiters for a few thousand dollars, which is much more capable for searches..

so yes we do, a lot.


trashbat

6,005 posts

152 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
quotequote all
I've been approached by Google through LinkedIn, and have my current job through it too, so yeah.

If you work anywhere interesting, you also get spammed all the time, and I'm not suggesting that you can't do better by directly applying to places completely outside LinkedIn.

basherX

2,464 posts

160 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
quotequote all
MrsMiggins said:
In my experience companies are using the site to find their own recruits, rather than paying a recruitment co to do it for them.

I've been contacted through LinkedIn by recruiters and employers directly.
Large (very) FTSE 100 company. We had a presentation from one of our recruitment team a couple of weeks ago and they've binned all their contracts with agencies in favour of training up a team of LinkedIn "Ninjas" (or some such management bks) and all our hires will now come via that route or adverts on our webpage or through some of the networks they're building (eg actively building up a bank of Big 4 newly qualifieds who might be of interest in the future). Employers can pay for enhanced access to the database which I guess is a good revenue stream for th website.

Ollie123

Original Poster:

121 posts

153 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
quotequote all
Very interesting, and thanks for the enlightenment (I didn't know if my former colleague was just lucky).

I suppose I better look into making a practical profile that doesn't read like a CV to my existing employer...

smile

GT03ROB

13,207 posts

220 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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Yes. It varies but on average I get at least one contact a week through linkedin asking about my interest in specific roles

Sheepshanks

32,530 posts

118 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
quotequote all
Gargamel said:
Their is. seperate licensed version sold to recruiters for a few thousand dollars,
Exactly - it was pretty obvious from the beginning that LinkedIn was all about recruiting.

In some industries it's seen as a bit weird if you're not on there.

SkinnyP

1,411 posts

148 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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Mustn't you be careful not to make your profile read too much like a CV, otherwise your employer may grow suspicious?

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
quotequote all
trashbat said:
I've been approached by Google through LinkedIn, and have my current job through it too, so yeah.

If you work anywhere interesting, you also get spammed all the time, and I'm not suggesting that you can't do better by directly applying to places completely outside LinkedIn.
Getting a job at Google is pretty hard. A friend of mine has been there 8 years and he had 8 interviews and a chat with the founders!

LinkedIn is funded by recruiters.

TIGA84

5,204 posts

230 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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Ollie123 said:
I can see how LinkedIn could be of use when headhunting a high flyer, but a former colleague of mine who worked in our lowly support department has recently got a new job (and significantly more rewarded) by a recruiter getting in touch through his profile.

Unless I’m severely out of touch, why would a recruiter spend time trolling through LinkedIn when no doubt they get dozens of applicants through their normal channels?

I don’t have a LinkedIn profile because I don’t see how it would benefit of me, plus I like the idea of my name not coming up in a Google search however if there’s a chance of a job offer then I may reconsider.
With a specific Recruiter Licence from LinkedIN, you'd be surprised at the amount of functionality it gives you for a database of 150 odd million people.

I reckon I could run a fairly successful recruitment business on my own, just with one of them.

trashbat

6,005 posts

152 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
quotequote all
bakerstreet said:
Getting a job at Google is pretty hard. A friend of mine has been there 8 years and he had 8 interviews and a chat with the founders!
Yeah, that's how it came across. I know a few people there and they said it was tough. I didn't proceed with it at all because they seem to be after formal computer scientists, the maths-oriented people who paid attention in the algorithms lectures, whereas I'm a generalist software engineer.

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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All. The. Time.

It's irritating.

AB

16,969 posts

194 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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Had a few approaches by recruiters recently that have come from LinkedIn.


AyBee

10,522 posts

201 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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swerni said:
I get contacted a couple of times a month by recruiters though LinkedIn.

So, yes they do
yes I never apply for jobs - they come to me, usually via LinkedIn and I have a very basic profile on there.

Sidewindow

300 posts

222 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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AyBee said:
yes I never apply for jobs - they come to me, usually via LinkedIn and I have a very basic profile on there.
That's good! What industry are you in? Interesting that you get a lot of hits even with a basic profile. I have a fairly full profile and have hardly had any profile views or contact from recruiters, even though i'm looking for a job...

griffin dai

3,194 posts

148 months

Friday 5th December 2014
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I've found Linkedin pretty handy. I'm not on FB as I don't want the hassle! So it's been great for getting back in touch with ex army mates and blokes I've lost touch with in work, been great getting back in touch with old friends.

Haven't spoke to some in 15 years since they got out!

Job wise I've sorted a few guys out looking to get into this game, pretty hard to get a foot in the door so Linkedin's meant they've been able to contact the right companies & get work with a decent firm smile Also had a few companies email for interview/availability smile

Does anybody use Linkedin Premium Professional? Any good?

griffin dai

3,194 posts

148 months

Friday 5th December 2014
quotequote all
Sidewindow said:
That's good! What industry are you in? Interesting that you get a lot of hits even with a basic profile. I have a fairly full profile and have hardly had any profile views or contact from recruiters, even though i'm looking for a job...
Join some groups relevant to your industry & search for any colleagues on there....and email/ask some guys if they know of any work. In my job id say 90% the work comes via word of mouth or recommendation, so many bell ends in this industry (scary!!!!) sometimes it's the only way to get a decent team of blokes together frown (networking with good guys gets the odd bit of extra work and usually leads on to more long term jobs) smile