Giving Thanks for Business Tools: LinkedIn

Thank Goodness for LinkedIn! Since I provide recruiting support to expansion stage technology companies, I am always looking for new talent and LinkedIn has proven to be an extremely valuable business tool for me. LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network, with over 85 million users, about half of which are in the U.S. Below are the three main reasons why I use LinkedIn for startup recruitment success…

Why I am thankful for LinkedIn:
The Right Audience
Not everyone is on LinkedIn, but as the world’s largest professional network, it provides an excellent live database of potential candidates and people to network with, especially in high tech.

Groups
Particularly in areas where I do not have an established network, such as Boise, Idaho (where Balihoo is located), joining a LinkedIn group such as Linked Local Boise Valley gives me an immediate connection to nearly 1,300 people interested in networking in the area. Groups also include a Jobs tab where members can post positions and links to external job postings for free.

Job Postings
I purchase job postings on LinkedIn in bulk so that each job posting is less expensive, and I typically receive between 30-100 applicants through the site for a 30 day post (depending on factors such as position, time of year, and location). The quality of the resumes we receive through LinkedIn are usually much higher than those received from job postings on other job sites, especially for mid-level positions providing sales and marketing support.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving weekend!