Seven Ways to Use LinkedIn to Mine for Talent

If you're still using recruiters to find potential job candidates, it's time to join the 21st century and get on the social media train! Namely: LinkedIn. LinkedIn just keeps getting better and better–and continues to attract more professionals looking for employment and lucrative or beneficial contacts in the business world.
 
LinkedIn has earned a reputation as THE site for hardcore job seekers. As of September 2010, there were over 20 million monthly visitors to the site, and nearly 33 million U.S. members. The site is a veritable gold mine for entrepreneurs and small business owners as well as those looking for prospective employees.

This slideshow highlights seven ways that businesspeople can use LinkedIn to identify potential job candidates. These tips have been adapted from The Online Job Search Survival Guide by Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D and Paul Borgese.

Click through for seven ways to locate potential candidates using LinkedIn, adapted from The Online Job Search Survival Guide.

Create a profile at LinkedIn.com with all the fields filled out, including a professional headshot. This conveys credibility, professionalism, and commitment to job candidates.

Invite current and past colleagues, classmates, and professional associates. Each person in your network provides access to their networks, allowing your circle of connections to expand exponentially.

Use the Advanced Search feature to search on keywords, titles, industry, and company, as well as specific skill sets to locate profiles that may be ideal candidates. If so moved, invite the best ones to apply.

Join LinkedIn groups that will include your ideal candidates, and post your position within these groups. You can join up to 50 industry-specific groups or create one to meet your needs.

Update your status at least once a week by posting items such as the types of candidates you are seeking, a reminder of the application deadline, how to apply, and so forth. This keeps you and your job "in the news" as your update appears in members' update feeds.

Visit LinkedIn Answers, search keywords related to your industry or position, and review quality responses. Invite individuals who post consistently, offer real value, or are true subject-matter experts to apply for the position.

Using LinkedIn to identify job candidates should be an ongoing process; rather than beginning to foster relationships only when you have an opening, you'll have networks in place already, with viable candidates whenever you need them.