During my recent RCSA speaking tour around Australia I spoke to over 500 Australian recruiters on the upbeat topic of ‘Riding the Recovery’.
I have to admit it was refreshing to talk about positive ideas and strategies to ensure we take advantage of the opportunities presented by an economic revival.
One of the key areas I covered was the use of Social Media as a sourcing and influencing tool for our industry going forward. I have already blogged on my finding that Australian recruiters use Twitter in tiny numbers, but I also used this opportunity to survey (by show of hands, so not very scientific), the use of LinkedIn by Australian recruiters.
It turns out that in Sydney and Melbourne about 80% of recruiters have a LinkedIn Account (I have to say I am wondering what the other 20% are waiting for). However when asked whether their LinkedIn accounts were worked ‘actively’ with status updates, participation in groups and all the other available applications, only 20% kept hands raised.
In Brisbane, 70% have LinkedIn accounts but again, only 20% of those are ‘worked actively”.
I am no LinkedIn expert, but it seems self evident that it’s a great branding tool, a fantastic sourcing tool and an exceptional way to connect with otherwise inaccessible people –not to mention its research capabilities.
I have spoken to clients who acknowledge freely that the first thing they do when assessing a new recruitment service provider, is to review their LinkedIn profile, including an evaluation of history, stability and quality of the recruiters network.
Personally, I could do far more with my LinkedIn account. However I do review it every day, participate in groups, answer questions, update my status and add connections every week. So far I have hired new Aquent employees from LinkedIn, won clients and secured speaking engagements.
So Aussie recruiters, let’s get with the programme. Slow to buy into Twitter I can half understand.
But if you are not LinkedIn… you are lucked out.
Great piece Greg and this problem is not just restricted to Australia. I work with Recruiters across the world but mainly in the UK and the vast majority see LinkedIn as a sourcing and research tool only. When I speak to LinkedIn users outside of the recruitment industry they see recruiters as imposters to ‘their’ community – vultures who have nothing to do with the community but from time to time swoop in to take what they want and then promptly leave again!
What a wasted opportunity! this tool is primarily a networking platform that could allow recruiters to change this perception but at the moment they are merely enchancing an already damaged reputation.
Never before have we had such a powerful medium to really engage with our communities (clients & candidates) and develop a positive and game winning personal brand.
Being on LinkedIn is not enough, if you are not ‘involved’ you are also lucked out and you may find that your communities soon ‘lock you out’!
Greg – my last company invested in a specialist LinkedIn trainer, who bemoaned the use of such an effective networking tool as something the recruitment industry had taken to hovering over to headhunt candidates.
Too often the real value of LinkedIn is bypassed for perceived short term gain – it takes no time to update your status, contrubute to discussions or ask and answer questions. By doing so you raise your profile and as you well know, start to become recognised as someone who has worthwhile things to say and therefore stands a better chance of doing business…