Australian Recruiters: LinkedIn or Lucked out?

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 Firebrand 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.