The Unspoken Rules of LinkedIn Recruiting

One of the absolute joys of being a LinkedIn Campus Editor is answering questions from my fellow USC classmates on the platform. Going to a highly ranked university, my classmates are expected to land some of the best internships in LA and many have tried to get recruited or find a job through LinkedIn. But while the traditional application and career fair have its defined etiquette, LinkedIn creates whole new set of challenges. For example, if you have an interview, you should send a thank you to the employee for their time and reiterate your interest in the position. But situations online, especially with recruiters and future bosses, haven’t established their own unspoken, almost universal rules behind the approach and behavior. 

“When do I connect with a recruiter/future boss?” 

Usually my go to rule is that if you have their business card or email, you can go ahead and connect with them. This means you have either had previous communication with them online or you met him/her in person. For most other cases, I like to advise people to send a message instead. You are much more likely to get in contact with the person because it is less aggressive and requires you to put forth a thoughtful, longer introduction of yourself and what goals you want to achieve by getting to know the other person better. 

“I keep sending messages to recruiters asking them to look at my profile and it isn’t working. How do I communicate my interest in a particular internship?”

If you sent me a message that said, “Hi Natalie. I’m interested in being your intern. Please look at my profile,” I would almost guaranteed never look at your profile. The issue with this approach is that it is too direct and doesn’t translate well over digital media. You would never actually say that in person, so don’t say it online. Instead, write a message asking for information from the prospective boss or recruiter. Ask them if you can set up a Skype chat or grab coffee to discuss a particular department in their company. It’s important to express your passion in what they are doing and to keep the initial focus on their achievements, not yours. 

“How do I let recruiters know that I am looking for an internship in a way that isn’t too aggressive?”

In addition to communicating with potential bosses or recruiters, I’ve seen a lot of students who don’t know whether to put in their headline that they are “currently seeking an internship in XYZ field”. I’m sure you have seen these headlines. They tend to be so long that they have to be cut off in most instances. Your headline should reflect how you view yourself professionally. Instead, try explaining your search for a job in your summary. This way, recruiters will recognize you are actively seeking positions without it coming across like you have no other professional identity. Another great tip that I share with my fellow students is to change your InMessaging Settings to show you are open to new positions and career development opportunities. 

“What do recruiters look for? How do I stand out?”

Pulse Articles. With LinkedIn on the rise to becoming the top-recruiting platform, potential employers are looking for optimized profiles that show off not only your technical skills, but also your personality. If your LinkedIn profile is your online resume, Pulse articles are your cover letters. They are your space to show off your interests and perspectives on your industry and beyond. Ultimately, employers want potential recruits to fit the job description and their corporate culture.

And while you may think you don’t fit into the “journalism” type, neither do some of the most successful writers on the platform. I’ve seen CTOs detail their experiences learning new coding languages and Human Genetics PhD students explain how their research relates to the aging population and ultimately the future of our health care system. These types of unique perspectives are what recruiters are looking for. Tai Tran, a PM at Apple and the Top LinkedIn writer for Social Media, was actually recruited by Apple because his future boss liked his LinkedIn articles. As more people start to use the platform and more recruiters utilize LinkedIn to its fullest potential, an etiquette of the platform will naturally form. While it still has a while to go, the opportunities to find and be found by recruiters and potential bosses continue to be one of LinkedIn’s greatest assets to its consumer.

If you are a student and would like some help with your Pulse articles, InMessage me regarding the LinkedIn  #StudentVoices  program.