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Using LinkedIn for Recruitment – What is new with LinkedIn?

Jun 13 11 - 10:04AMAlex Charraudeau, Account Manager Technology

Two big things happened this month at LinkedIn.  Firstly they have floated on the stock exchange giving them a whole load of money to play with.  Secondly they have decided to revolutionise the way that people apply to jobs online by allowing people to apply with their LinkedIn profile. 

Revolutionise might be the wrong word here.  This is not unchartered territory for recruitment technology.  They are in fact following in the footsteps of a company called iProfile who set out to do this many years ago.  iProfile, which creates an online version of your CV, can be used by to apply to recruitment companies and websites.  iProfile have about 3.5 million registered users; primarily IT professionals in the UK.  LinkedIn, however, has over 60% of executives registered globally. 

Why else is this so important?  Well LinkedIn have given us all another reason to have a LinkedIn account.  If business networking wasn’t already a big enough incentive!  They are also making it more important as part of the recruitment process for both agencies and corporate HR.  The reach of LinkedIn is huge – but it is about to get bigger.  The need for recruitment LinkedIn training will increase as a result.


As a tool to help convert passive job seekers on the spur of the moment this new application tool may work quite well.  I don’t know many people who keep a version of their CV with them at all time or on their desktops at work.  Your LinkedIn profile is only a click away and many people keep theirs up to date.  This could increase application rates substantially with the passive job seeker and fit in nicely with marketing strategies targeting people who are not actively job hunting.

In effect LinkedIn is making applying for a job online as easy as signing up for an e-newsletter, re-Tweeting something or Liking something on Facebook.

Follow Alex on Twitter @alexCharraudeau

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Gerry Crispin, 13 June 2011, 07:59 PM
I would agree with your second thought...not revolutionary. It's an excellent feature but all profiles in which you choose to present public 'face' need to be converted to the exact details required in an application...and neither Linkedin nor the prospect considering whether to apply is going to be able to do that as easily as presented. Better if Employers accept Linkedin profiles as an initial handshake...not an application but as the entry point to a firm's talent community. Then we've got something to talk about.
Nicholas, 14 June 2011, 08:36 AM
I believe anything that can streamline the process is helpful, and I think we will see in the coming years all about streamlining mobile platforms. Apply from LinkedIn is just one such item that will prove valuable, although not ground breaking.

Let's hope LinkedIn play open, because just as easy as it is for people to add functionality, if opinions change it is just as easy to drop it.

When will apply with facebook arrive :)
Alex Charraudeau, 14 June 2011, 08:05 AM
I've been monitoring the change in Facebook's profile display over the last year and they have put a lot more emphasis on the education, job title and employer element. I think this is a step in the direction of LinkedIn. At the moment you can build up an outline of your work history, but it isn't particularly detailed. I am sure that in the future it will improve so that you can have a "Facebook CV".

The main reason that they started putting emphasis on the education, company and job title though was for Facebook targeted advertising. If you work for Coca Cola and you want to hire a marketing person with experience in your sector then target people who work at Pepsi and have a degree in marketing. Couldn't get much more targeted!
Alexander, 14 June 2011, 04:38 PM
I could definitely see applicants using the button at times but would employers embrace it as much as applicants?

'm sure some employers would prefer the traditional methods of applying by using Linked In as an awareness tool and then asking candidates to submit their CV by the traditional ways. What are the advantages of using the "Apply within LinkedIn" button?
Alex, 14 June 2011, 04:14 PM
If a candidate fills in their profile correctly/fully there should be hardly any disparity between what is considered a "traditional CV" and "an online profile". Don't forget - for a while now you have been able to download peoples' profiles as PDFs - which again has blurred the line between CV and LinkedIn profile.

How laborious a task is it getting references once you have decided that you like a candidate? Could recommendations on LinkedIn be a kind of half way house?

A CV or a profile is never the deciding factor in the hiring process - but it does open the door. A LinkedIn profile in my opinion is enough to open the door for an interview.
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