Are You Using Or Abusing LinkedIn – Part 1
I started recruiting way back in fact B.L.; before LinkedIn! Hard to believe that this huge business social network only appeared just over 12 years ago. It feels like it has been around forever.
Admittedly it has changed drastically from the early days back in 2002. We now have over 2 million groups we can join and specific recruiter platforms that give recruiters access to more connections; provided we pay, of course.
For smart recruiters it has changed the way they work and the results they, consequently achieve. Though that isn’t the case with every recruiter out there. We know because as a rec to rec company we talk to recruiters every hour of the day and see them in action in our feeds.
As a breed, recruiters tend to be ‘go for it’ types of people. The whole; build relationships first and ‘social selling’ is a new concept. Now therein lays a problem because LinkedIn is a SOCIAL network; even though it was set up as a way for business people to connect with other people. To ‘play’ the LinkedIn game effectively you have to think social first.
Want to know if you are an abuser? Hopefully you never do any of these.
LinkedIn abusers do this……..
Post five status updates back to back. I know! Why? Do they think that people will miss them or maybe they just haven’t got the hang of posting? Not good; makes you look either a Pratt or desperate.
Try and connect with people they have no degree of connection with. Fine if you are using Inmail or one of the paid platforms for recruiters. Not so good if you are sending a pitching email and worse still it can result in getting your account shut down; sometimes permanently.
Post nothing but jobs. LinkedIn is not a job board and it will switch people off if that is all you do.
Abusers are also inconsistent users; not technically abuse and yet it is for your followers. Remember one of the laws of influence states that people appreciate and respond to commitment and consistency. Sending an update when you are desperate to fill a job won’t cut it.
Stalk about in groups and just post rubbish. LinkedIn groups are a great place to connect with your target market which will be the topic for another post. Have a look in some of the groups you are members of and read some of the contributions? They astound me; it’s no wonder recruiters get a bad name.
Pitch a candidate the minute you connect. I know it might be tempting and trust me it will turn people off. If someone accepts your connection it doesn’t mean that they have agreed to be ‘sold’ to within a matter of minutes.
Don’t have an image on their profile. Now this might be contentious for you search girls and guys out there and what is that about. I have had many conversations about this over the past few years.
Do you honestly think that people are going to be keen to connect to a logo or a blank face? Remember this is a social network; think relationship and rapport building first.
So have I missed any? What are the things that cheese you off about other recruiters on LinkedIn?
Till next time,
Cheryl Wing and the GSR2R team
P.S. Look out for Part 2 and what you could be doing