Quick guide to LinkedIn's recruitment power in Singapore

When LinkedIn fist appeared I had real fears in relation to its negative impact on the recruitment industry. There is no doubt that, especially in a ‘wired’ country like Singapore, LinkedIn is becoming more and more influential in terms of candidate selection and recruitment.

LinkedIn is a professional networking tool which gives the outside world and impression of, commercially, who you are. In some cases, your profile can actually substitute for the traditional CV.

However, my initial concerns about it as a competitor have largely been allayed. It is a great tool, and a wonderful place to display commercial information about yourself…if you do it correctly.

Business as usual

For recruiters and headhunters LinkedIn now plays multiple roles—and candidates and business should understand these to get the best results.

In my business, it is an open database of international talent, it lets you do simple due diligence on candidates, and you get the chance to ‘test’ individuals in their manner and communication skills. But all of this means more work for companies recruiting independently (good for recruiters), and possibly places candidates in the position of struggling to stand out from the greatly increased masses.

Business as usual then for recruiters and headhunters.

Recruitment use and candidate failure

In my company, we have identified a number of key uses for LinkedIn in our business model. Most significantly, we have enabled our candidate network to apply for positions using their LinkedIn profiles.

We use it to facilitate the process of applying for positions and have increased job applications from passive candidates (those not actively looking). The process of applying for positions has been made easier by allowing candidates to register interest without the requirement to produce a CV at the initial stage.

But, and this is where candidates should really take note, LinkedIn profiles are now serious business and deserve some serious time and effort.

Remember your brand

Professional profiles are open to the global community to view. Therefore, it is absolutely vital that it reflects your professional image—including appearance, content, spelling, grammar, and what you are involving yourself in.

And remember, you are also on display to your peers, some who know you, but many who don’t.

We believe that it is important to connect with only those individuals who add value to your network. We highly recommend keeping LinkedIn for professional networking and not social postings to ensure that you professional brand is consistent.

The picture of you and your cat might be cute…but leave that for Facebook.

Beware of stranger-danger

From a headhunter’s perspective we only recommend connecting with recruiters you know (or know of), and who can be trusted. Remember that other people, including your colleagues and direct reports, can see who you are linking with if they are in your network.

Suddenly linking with every recruitment agent in Singapore might raise a slight suspicion you are looking at your options.

I would advise that over time you link with key recruitment specialists in your chose field or area. Especially those who put resources into industry studies and thought-piece, that at least gives you an escape route if you are questioned over your connections.

Those headhunters who understand nothing of your field of expertise will probably end up wasting your time and, as per pre-LinkedIn times, we advocate partnering up with maximum of two head hunters.

Being connected to non specialist recruiters could end up diluting your image as a high-value/must-have candidate from our point of view.

In essence LinkedIn is an excellent tool. But stay focused and be selective to ensure that you maximize its potential.