LinkedIn: The Recruiting Powerhouse and Social Network

Recruiting with LinkedIn

Why is LinkedIn relevant for recruiting?

LinkedIn is more than just a job board; it’s a dynamic network where professionals connect, share insights, and explore opportunities. For recruiters, this translates to a deep pool of active and passive candidates. Passive candidates, who might not be actively job hunting but are open to the right opportunity, are particularly valuable for filling niche roles.

• Massive Reach: LinkedIn’s large and diverse audience spans all industries and experience levels, making it ideal for targeting specific talent pools.
• High Engagement: Candidates are not only job searching but also engaging with industry content, networking, and building their personal brand.
• Advanced Filtering: With advanced search filters, recruiters can pinpoint candidates by location, job title, skills, and more.

Key Facts

• Generalist, global platform
• 1 billion professionals
• 310+ million monthly active users
• 10+ million job postings at any given time

Tools for recruiters – LinkedIn Talent Solutions

LinkedIn equips recruiters and companies with powerful hiring tools through its Talent Solutions platform, tailored to connect businesses with top talent from its network of over 1 billion members. Key offerings include:

• LinkedIn Recruiter: Advanced search filters, AI-driven candidate suggestions, and InMail messaging for sourcing active and passive talent.
• LinkedIn Jobs: Targeted job postings with features like ‘Easy Apply’ to streamline applications. (Available through JOIN)
• Recruiter Lite: A cost-effective option for smaller firms with essential recruiting features.
• Talent Insights: Data analytics to inform hiring strategies, paired with company pages and employee advocacy to boost employer branding.

Building an Effective LinkedIn Recruitment Strategy

1. Optimise your Company Profile

Creating a company profile on LinkedIn is not only free but also highly beneficial for your brand. It allows candidates to follow your profile, keeping them connected with your brand and updated on new job opportunities, company news, and industry insights. 

Source: Linkedin.com

Your LinkedIn company page serves as your employer brand hub. Keep it updated with:

• Company news and achievements
• Employee spotlights and testimonials
• Industry insights and thought leadership content
• Clear information about your company culture and values

You don’t have a company profile yet? Learn more in our article about how to create a Linkedin Company profile.

2. LinkedIn Premium ads

LinkedIn offers a premium ad model called Pay-for-Performance (P4P), which ensures budget efficiency by charging only when a potential candidate clicks on the ad. The P4P model is designed to maximise reach and performance while providing flexible budget allocation options:

• P4P Posting – Large: €600 for 30 days, ideal for maximum reach.
• P4P Posting – Medium: €400 for 30 days, optimised for visibility.
• P4P Posting – Small: €250 for 30 days, a budget-friendly option to increase applications.

Benefits of Premium Ads

• Extended Reach: Ads are displayed not only to active job seekers but also to passive candidates through push notifications, emails, and in their job feed.
• Prominent Placement: Ads appear at the top of search results, enhancing visibility.
• Easy Apply: A one-click application process for candidates that results in a significant boost in the number of applications.

Standard Jobs vs. P4P: When to Use Each

Standard LinkedIn Jobs (free with JOIN) work well for:

• Entry-level positions with large candidate pools
• Roles where you have consistent hiring needs
• Testing job descriptions before investing in promotion

P4P Job Ads deliver better results for:

• Hard-to-fill or specialised positions
• Roles requiring immediate hiring
• Competitive talent markets where visibility is crucial
• Positions where quality of applications matters more than quantity

3. Active sourcing on LinkedIn

Apart from job postings, active sourcing is an important channel for recruiters. It involves proactively searching for and contacting potential candidates, even if they are not actively job hunting. LinkedIn’s search tools and filters make it easy to find profiles that match your requirements. Additionally, recruiters using JOIN’s Chrome Extension can seamlessly import LinkedIn profiles directly into JOIN, streamlining the sourcing process and enhancing recruitment efficiency.

Tips for maximising LinkedIn as a recruiter

• Optimise your company page: Regularly update your company profile with engaging content and job postings.
• Leverage advanced search filters: Use filters like skills, location, and experience level to find the best candidates.
• Engage with passive candidates: Share relevant content and maintain communication with potential talent.
• Try InMail messaging: Reach out directly to candidates with personalised messages.
• Promote jobs: Reach the right candidates by increasing your visibility and standing out from the competition.

How do candidates use LinkedIn?

For job seekers, LinkedIn offers a seamless experience with personalised job recommendations, smart search filters, and the convenience of Easy Apply, which allows users to apply for roles with a single click. LinkedIn goes further by providing customised job alerts through push notifications and curated email suggestions based on users’ profiles and activities, ensuring they never miss a relevant opportunity.

LinkedIn’s integrated approach ensures that professionals can not only find jobs but also build and nurture a robust career network, making it a comprehensive platform for career growth.

LinkedIn: A Brief History

LinkedIn was founded in 2003 by Reid Hoffman and his team with the vision of creating a dedicated professional networking platform. The company quickly gained traction and achieved profitability by 2006 through revenue streams including advertising, premium subscriptions, and recruitment services.

After a successful IPO in 2011, LinkedIn was acquired by Microsoft in 2016 for $26.2 billion, though it continues to operate as a distinct brand.

The platform keeps evolving by adding and improving new features constantly.

Functioning as a thought leader in the global job market

Linkedin, like many other large job boards and networks, is eager to provide insight on the labour market, market trends and the future of hiring and job seeking. Conducting surveys and issuing reports on their blog, making it also a great source of knowledge for recruiters and professionals around the world. 

As an example: The Linkedin Talent Drivers survey showing what candidates look for when considering a new job.

LinkedIn Influencers and Top Voices

LinkedIn recognizes industry leaders, experts, and thought leaders as “Top Voices” or “LinkedIn Influencers.” These professionals share valuable content that reaches millions of users, shaping industry trends and fostering professional communities. The annual Top Voice designation is awarded to individuals who consistently create engaging, high-quality content in areas like leadership, technology, or career development.

Notable LinkedIn Influencers include Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, and Richard Branson.

Linkedin today and its future outlook

Today, LinkedIn continues to adapt, offering features like AI-driven job matching, learning platforms, and community-building tools. It remains a pivotal platform for professional networking, job searching, and career development, continually evolving to meet the needs of the global workforce.

Conclusion

LinkedIn is an indispensable tool for modern recruitment strategies. Its vast audience, powerful ad products, and seamless candidate engagement make it a top choice for recruiters aiming to attract both active and passive talent efficiently. Whether you’re filling specialised roles or broad positions, LinkedIn’s tools and reach ensure you get the most out of your recruitment budget and efforts.

Ready to enhance your recruiting strategy? Start by optimising your LinkedIn company page, explore JOIN’s Chrome Extension for easier sourcing, visit our store and leverage premium ads to maximise your reach!