How to approach a recruiter on LinkedIn?
Searching for a job can be a downright terrifying experience. If you have been searching for a job for a long time now, you must be aware of this bitter, hard truth.
We can't deny that after a while, when nothing seems to work out, we need to play smart, not hard. We need to look beyond the job boards and publicized adverts.
In this case, nothing is more effective than networking, and LinkedIn has made that a lot easier for us. With that being said, you need to carefully curate your message to get it noticed and answered.
You will be surprised to know that 93% of recruiters are using LinkedIn to find candidates. It also says that only 50% of LinkedIn users have a complete profile.
If that is the case with you, too, follow this guide where we will be familiarizing you with how you can spruce up your LinkedIn profile and approach a recruiter on LinkedIn effectively.
Here's are some important questions that we will cover in this guide:
- How can a recruiter help you find your dream job?
- What are 1st degree, 2nd degree, and 3rd degree LinkedIn connections?
- Why should you customize your LinkedIn URL and how to do it?
- How to incorporate keywords to be found by recruiters?
Here's what you will learn by the end of the guide:
- How to make your LinkedIn profile stand out?
- How to find recruiters on LinkedIn?
- How to approach a recruiter on LinkedIn?
- How to be found by recruiters on LinkedIn?
How to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out?
If you want the recruiter to find you, you need to update your LinkedIn profile just like how you need to update your resume.
With over 740 million LinkedIn users worldwide, it is undeniably the most effective professional networking social media platform.
Here are a few tips to make your LinkedIn profile attractive to recruiters:
Add Your Headshot
The most essential thing you can do is upgrade your LinkedIn profile to add a professional photo to your LinkedIn profile if you have not done that yet. A photograph humanizes your LinkedIn profile and makes it more approachable.
In addition to your profile picture, also add a background image to your LinkedIn profile. A cover picture holds the highest significance apart from your LinkedIn profile.
Hiration Pro Tip: Your cover picture should represent you. You can make use of quotes or logos to make it stand out.
Here are a few tips to add a cover picture to your LinkedIn profile:
- Add a company brand or logo you have worked for
- Keep your cover picture background simple
- Add appropriate texts or quotes that represent you
- The file type must be PNG or JPEG, and the maximum file size is 8MB
Write an Eye-Catching Headline
Your LinkedIn headline is positioned right below your name in your LinkedIn profile. It is the first thing that LinkedIn profile visitors get to see.
If you do not write anything, LinkedIn default settings will fill this space with your current position. That's okay, but we recommend you to customize your headline and write an eye-catching headline and make it unique- however, you want it to be.
Below are a few tips for writing a great headline:
- It must cater to your targeted job profile
- Use the right keywords in your headline
- Don't make it complex- write it short and simple
- Don't use hyperbole
Right below is a snap of a LinkedIn headline to help you illustrate an impeccable headline for your profile:
Craft an Interesting Summary
The LinkedIn summary is an opportunity for you to tell your professional story. You have 2000 characters space, so you can dive in a little deeper and write a compelling summary.
Attention spans are short these days. Therefore, you need to be very alert while you are writing your summary. You don't need to use the entire 2000 character space. Keep it short and engaging.
Below are a few tips to help you create a summary that stands out:
- Highlight the years of experience in the relevant industry
- Mention the job title and professional experience relevant to the targeted profile.
- Mention your **key achievements **that highlight your potential and capability to achieve targets.
- Briefly mention your skills and expertise related to the targeted job profile.
- Add your contact details at the end of your summary- Email id or phone number will do the work.
If you are a fresher, you can focus on writing your participation in volunteering, extra-curricular activities, and internships.
Below is an example of a summary to help you craft an excellent summary for your LinkedIn profile:
Customize LinkedIn URL
You can personalize your LinkedIn URL and make it more significant. The default LinkedIn URL has your name and some random numbers on it. Therefore, it's always a good idea to customize your LinkedIn URL.
Here's why you should customize your LinkedIn URL:
- It gives a professional look to your LinkedIn profile
- It showcases your attention to detail
- It improves your profile searchability
Here's how can customize your LinkedIn URL:
- Step 1: Visit your LinkedIn home page
- Step 2: Click on the "Me" Icon
- Step 3: Select view profile
- Step 4: Select the "Edit public profile & URL" option
- Step 5: You will be directed to a new page. Locate the "Edit your custom URL" option on the top right of the page
- Step 6: Now edit your LinkedIn profile URL and save it
Hiration Pro Tip: Do not miss out on any relevant information that is available in your resume. Most recruiters check the LinkedIn profile to verify the information available in a resume.
How to Find Recruiters on LinkedIn?
It's a common practice to mention the recruiter's name at the bottom of the job posting. If you have submitted your online application, it's a good idea to search and connect with the recruiters.
Engaging with recruiters can give a massive boost in your job search journey only if you know how to do it correctly. In this article, we will exactly explain what you need to do to find recruiters on LinkedIn.
Before that, let us understand how a recruiter can help you in your job search. According to Business Insider, at least 70% of jobs are not even listed. With that being said, it means that one is losing on a lot of job vacancies without the right connections.
Who Are Professional Recruiters?
They are often called "headhunters" and "search specialists." Their job is to fill the job vacancies by screening potential candidates.
Large companies have recruiters for all types of job positions. Placement is a source of income for recruiters. You definitely should reach out to recruiters while you are searching for a job.
How to Find Them?
At most times, a recruiter will reach out to you. If you have submitted your application for any job position, then a recruiter might contact you to conduct a pre-screening interview. If the recruiter is convinced that you are an ideal fit for the job position, then your application is passed on to the hiring manager.
The recruiters can reach out to you on LinkedIn while finding prospective candidates by conducting keyword research. To appear in the recruiters' search results, it is imperative to optimize your LinkedIn profile with the tips mentioned above.
If you come across any job posting and have the recruiter's name mentioned below, you can reach out to recruiters directly on LinkedIn. You can reach out to recruiters expressing your interest in the job role or request an information interview.
Key tips for finding recruiters on LinkedIn:
- Start to find them with the broad search term 'recruiter'
- Narrow your results by the options available right below your search option
- Narrow your options more by region, industry, etc. by clicking on all filters
- Upgrade your account for advance search options
How It Works?
The recruiter will contact you for an information interview. It might be conducted over a call or in person. The recruiter gets a sense of your career background and professional qualifications so that h/she can suggest the job positions that are the right fit for you.
You can decide whether or not you are interested in the available job profile. If you are interested, the recruiter sends your resume to the company and coordinates it throughout the interview process. If at any point you are rejected, the recruiters also pass on valuable feedback to you from the company.
How To Approach a Recruiter on LinkedIn?
Three steps to connect with a recruiter on LinkedIn:
- Research recruiter's LinkedIn profile: Attention to details matter when you connect with someone you don't know personally. Try to find out if you have anything in common with the recruiter. It would be a great way to start the conversation and break the ice.
- Personalize connection request: Adding a customized note to your connection request is essential. Customized messages increase the probability of your acceptance rate as you begin reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn.
- Follow-up message: Once the recruiter accepts your connection request, send a follow-up note thanking them for connecting. Express your interest in the job description that recently caught your attention, and you can request an information interview.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind while you connect with recruiters on LinkedIn:
- Avoid generic messages. The recruiter's LinkedIn profile is flooded with a lot of connection requests and messages. In that case, a generic note is a surefire route to not getting accepted.
- Do not send short messages saying "Hi" or "Hello." Also, avoid sending lengthy messages just talking about yourself.
- Do not beat around the bush. Be polite and straightforward. Let them know directly what you want out of the connection request.
- You have 300 characters space to write a personalized note to your LinkedIn connection request. Use the right tone and add a personal touch to your message.
- Always proofread before you send the final message to the recruiter to avoid any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes that can set the wrong impression.
- The recruiters will not accept all connection requests. Do not take it personally.
How to Be Found By Recruiters on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is the largest professional networking platform. If you want to be found by the recruiters, understanding how the recruiters use the tool to find the job seekers is vital.
Recruiters use filters and search terms to find the candidates for the job vacancies. It would be best if you optimize your LinkedIn profile to appear in the search results of the recruiter's.
Let's have a look at how you can leverage your LinkedIn account to find a job:
Turn On "Open To Opportunities"
If you want recruiters to find you, let recruiters know that you are available for a new job. LinkedIn allows you to turn on the settings so that you can appear in the searches of the recruiters who are looking for a candidate in the domain of your interests.
All you need to do is locate the Jobs section in your LinkedIn profile (it looks like a suitcase). Click on career interests right under the search bar. Turn on the first option that appears to let recruiters know you are open to new jobs.
Incorporate Keywords
When recruiters search for candidates on LinkedIn to fill a specific job position, they look for a particular set of skills or keywords. While you add professional experience to your LinkedIn profile, you should also add the skills you possess.
Keywords play an instrumental role in LinkedIn search results. You can incorporate keywords in your profile heading, job title, job description, and profile summary.
Optimize our LinkedIn profile for the job profile you are targeting. Focus more on the skill set and experience that match the profile you are targeting. Also, add the location where you are looking for a job. It can be different from the location you are residing currently.
Build Network
LinkedIn is the largest social media platform for professional networking. An active network is a proactive source for you to appear in the recruiter's search results.
Your visibility in LinkedIn largely depends on your connections (1st, 2nd, and 3rd-degree connections). Therefore, the more people you are connected to, the more likely you may be connected to recruiters.
Let's have an understanding about 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-degree LinkedIn connections:
- 1st-degree LinkedIn connections – People you're directly connected to on LinkedIn on the basis of acceptance of the invitation sent by either of you.
- 2nd-degree LinkedIn connections – People your 1st-degree connections are connected to. They are "friends of your friends". You will be able to see their email address, phone number, and public activity.
- 3rd degree LinkedIn Connections – People connected to your 2nd-degree connections are your 3rd-degree connections in LinkedIn.
Demonstrate Your Professional Credibility
Demonstrating your knowledge and expertise in your LinkedIn helps the recruiter to trust you quickly. Though we have already discussed the ways to increase your professional credibility on LinkedIn, let us have a look at it again in brief:
- Ask recommendations from the people you have worked with. Recommendations are a social proof of your existing skills.
- Customize your LinkedIn URL to something that represents you and is easy to remember.
- Upload a professional headshot and add a custom banner image to your LinkedIn profile.
- Be active on LinkedIn. Engage with the content that resonates with you and publish your own content that is relevant and helpful.
Hiration LinkedIn Profile Review
Get professional reviews from experts for your LinkedIn profile and make a statement on the professional platform.
- Instant Review of LinkedIn profile
- Your LinkedIn profile score
- Section-wise review & score
- Pro-tips from LinkedIn experts
- Export your profile in One-Click
- Choose from over **100+ designs
Go to Hiration career platform which has 24/7 chat support and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries. You can also write to us at support@hiration.com and we will make sure to reach out to you as soon as possible.
Key Takeaways
Here's a quick roundup of the guide on how to reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn:
- Add a professional headshot along with a banner image that represents you. Write an eye-catching headline and an engaging summary.
- Customize your LinkedIn URL. Use your name as a custom URL or a professional brand associated with you.
- Research the recruiter's LinkedIn profile and add a personalized note with every connection request you send.
- Please turn on the settings that let recruiters know that you are open by work to appear in their search results.
- Incorporate relevant keywords and optimize our LinkedIn for the job profile you are targeting
