You know I think you're the cat's meow as a
recruiter, but have you noticed how some of your kin in your industry are not
as savvy as they should be when it comes to using LI (LinkedIn) to recruit?
This year, I've come in contact with three
recruiters who have no previous connection to me, yet they've sent me canned
candidate search e-mails via the "InMail" feature, and they're usually
mis-categorized as an "expertise request." The most recent one
sent me this long, chatty request to reply to her to inquire directly about and
available position at her company. I responded right away, since she
specifically asked me to get back to her with a time when she could call me to
tell me more about the opportunity. I hear nothing back for two days, and then
she replies with a single link to the position on their website.
The sad thing is, these recruiters were
legit - in my case, all of them were HR department employees of the companies
with positions to fill. Just a little anecdote for you that illustrates how the
poor homework isn't always the fault of the candidate, LOL.
Some common issues I've noticed with
recruiters using LinkedIn:
1. Spelling/grammar errors. Really? If I'm taking the time to spell-check and
punctuation-check an inquiry before I hit send, why can't they?
2. Improper use of InMail. Only premium or
enterprise account holders have unlimited InMail access - That feature gives
you the ability to e-mail LI members without having to clear the hurdle of
getting a connection first. The rest of us regular folk have to purchase the
right to *send* InMail, so when we *receive* one, we tend to take it seriously.
If you're a recruiter using InMail to attract a candidate, don't waste our time
if you don't intend to contact us or formally ask for a resume. In addition,
you're not asking me for my "expertise" or a "consulting
request." If you can't find the right category to enter on the drop-down
menu of the InMail recipient's contact preferences, don't use InMail. Make the
connection request and scrap the generic LinkedIn greeting for a proper,
personal introduction and request to connect.
3. LinkedIn "party fouls." If
you’re a recruiter that keeps lurking our profile and your settings aren't set
to "anonymous," we can see the last 5 days worth of profile views
without paying for a premium account. Quit being a creep and either make a
connection request and CONTACT us, or stop stalking us! Seriously, it just
gives a hungry job seeker a false sense of hope when you re-visit the profile,
but take no action. :-)
4. If you are a
recruiter who has already taken the time to become a first-level connection,
ask for a resume, and perhaps even invite that connection to become part of the
interview process, don't turn into a jerk the moment the candidacy process hits
a wall or favors someone else. Case in point: I once had a recruiter
"court" me from initial connection through five (YES, FIVE) in-person
and phone interviews with her company, only to become a total cyber-ghost,
failing to return any e-mails or calls about my status.
I compare this to online dating. Sure, it's considered only slightly
rude if you don't respond to a "wink" from a potential mate, but if
you've taken the time to talk over e-mail/phone, or maybe even meet for a first
date, it's rather tactless to vanish without a trace if you're just not feeling
the love after the first meeting. A
simple, "Sorry, I think you're nice (sharp
candidate), but I don't think we're a match (the right fit for what my hiring
manager needed)," will suffice.
[Check out this video on You
Tube - http://youtu.be/Ba6Igu1MvE0http://youtu.be/Ba6Igu1MvE0.
It’s a funny parody on a Gyote song about lack of recruiter love.]
Thank you. That concludes my little LinkedIn
gripe of the day. :-) I'm sure you're not
guilty of these moves, right? LOL
My
response to Bridget: "Love your
comments! I get a lot of candidate complaining about lame recruiters and how
they use LinkedIn. Me, I’m just super direct on it – asking for help and
stating exactly why. I might check a candidate out twice but that’s
it. I think Dave has instilled in everyone over here to respect the
candidates even though we don‘t work for them. Eventually they may become a
client and/or a great source for information. Bottom line treat people with
respect and kindness and it will come back twofold!"
