LinkedIn is a hugely beneficial tool for both employees and employers alike. It’s no wonder this social networking platform has taken the professional realm by storm. As the platform grows and applications from the platform pour in, it’s increasingly harder to wade through the number of applicants per job listing.
With so many options, you may wonder how to find the right employees on LinkedIn. To answer this question, we’ll review how LinkedIn’s features give time-saving insight into potential employees.
How Hiring Works on LinkedIn
LinkedIn offers several hiring processes. Review these options to find your company’s best match.
Using Social Networking & LinkedIn Recruiters for Employment
The main purpose of LinkedIn is to provide social networking to find employment, both for employees and employers. “Connecting” with other professionals is the equivalent of “friending” someone on Facebook. By doing so, a tree of connections may put two people in contact that would’ve never otherwise met. Sometimes, these unions are accomplished by LinkedIn recruiters working behind the scenes.
Employees Search for Job Openings
How do employers find employees on LinkedIn? Sometimes, they just sit back and wait for the inquiries to come in. After all, it’s typically the candidates who are most driven to connect with a respectable employer.
LinkedIn has a full-function job search engine that allows candidates to filter positions by title, company, location, seniority level, and other key factors. Employers may list their open positions and decide how they’d like to receive potential applicants. Some use the Easy Apply function (more on that below), while others send employees away from LinkedIn to the company’s hiring page.
Employers Search for Potential Employees
However, in some cases, a company can be desperate for a new hire to help share a heavy or unexpected workload. Employers enter a set of parameters for a candidate much in the same way a candidate chooses parameters for the company they want to work for. LinkedIn even alerts employees when they’ve appeared in the recent searches conducted by hiring managers.
Easy Apply Job Openings
One aspect of LinkedIn that greatly benefits those seeking a new position is the LinkedIn “Easy Apply” feature. Easy Apply allows candidates to upload a PDF or similar document file of their resume, and cover letter if requested. Then, they’re able to auto-submit that resume to any jobs willing to accept applications in that manner. This is a faster way of applying because it removes the necessity of filling out third-party forms on an employer’s website, which are typically more lengthy and detailed. Employers looking for a great volume of applications tend to choose the Easy Apply option.
Does LinkedIn Do Background Checks?
Does LinkedIn do background checks? The short answer is: no. LinkedIn background checks via their own platform are not available, and the site does not have background data. LinkedIn is a social media site and lists only the information the candidate has uploaded. It doesn’t provide employers with sensitive information like background checks. However, LinkedIn does have some interesting features that may provide additional insight into an applicant.
LinkedIn’s Mutual Recommendations
A LinkedIn applicant’s primary, secondary, and even tertiary connections can reveal a great deal about his or her professional life. Just as there are only six relationships that separate any one person from actor Kevin Bacon, it probably only takes a quick message or two to get to someone you know who also knows your applicant. You can reach out to these people and ask for a review. Mutual recommendations may also function as a casual form of identity verification for a new employee.
LinkedIn’s Skills and Endorsements
LinkedIn profiles have a section for professionals to list their skills. Most are industry-related, though a few character-based ones (such as simply “Pasta”) are thrown into the mix. Employers can see which skills a professional finds to be their strongest through a self-ranking system. Additionally, a professional’s connections can “endorse” their skills — providing an affirmation that said person actually has it. You can assume that highly-endorsed skills are ones the applicant genuinely possesses.
LinkedIn’s Connected Social Media
Professionals are likely to link their personal social media accounts to their LinkedIn. For some industries, often creative ones, this is standard. For others, it’s a personal choice made by the employee to better showcase themselves or drive social media traffic in one direction or the other. The benefit to this is giving employers the opportunity to see a glimpse of a new hire’s social media: their personal life and online presence can be very telling of their character — essentially a “LinkedIn background check” of its own.
Generally speaking, it can be difficult to find social media profiles of applicants. These are not included in background checks. Therefore, quick connections to social media accounts are a huge reason to use LinkedIn as a hiring tool.
Why Background Checks Are Still Necessary
While LinkedIn has a number of beneficial features, a background check is ultimately still necessary for making the best, data-driven hiring decision. Keep in mind that all LinkedIn information is self-provided, meaning a candidate’s profile may not detail accurate employment history. In order to verify the employee’s qualifications and cross-reference that information, a background check is needed. Also be mindful that a background check for potential hires will always provide you with information that LinkedIn cannot, including criminal history and credit report.
How LinkedIn Mixes with Best-Hiring Practices
All-in-all, LinkedIn is just one hiring tool. You wouldn’t rely on just a resume, just a background check, or just an interview alone. Putting all of these pieces together with the information from LinkedIn helps you get a complete picture of a candidate’s viability. With regards to best hiring practices, be thorough when reading through LinkedIn profiles, and cross-reference that information with other provided and requested sources such as a background check.
Choose DataCheck When Hiring on LinkedIn
Thinking of hiring on LinkedIn? It’s a great place to start! Much of the workforce, especially young professionals, have robust profiles that help determine their qualifications and cultural fit. Once you’ve narrowed down your hiring pool, get in contact with DataCheck! We offer customizable, pre-employment screening solutions that give you the data you need to make an informed decision, as well as prevent any negligent hiring lawsuits. Keep your workplace safe and ensure the longevity of your next employee by running a background check with DataCheck today.