Jolene Timmons

3 Quick Tips to Leveraging LinkedIn Groups

Want to streamline both the time and effort it takes to find targeted talent?  I use LindedIn every day as one of my resources to identify top talent.  My research and sourcing processes are made more efficient and simple by leveraging LinkedIn Groups.  It takes a little time to set up but greatly enhances my search results.  Here are 3 quick tips I use to fast track my efforts:

1. Take Stock & Analyze Hiring Needs:  I hesitate to use the word analyze because it seems like left brained work BUT it is essential to know the target.  What are my projected hiring needs in the immediate, near and long term?  How many sales, marketing, technology, HR, operations or creative / entertainment executives will I be hiring this year?  Do I have a unique, specific talent need such as a Chief Financial Officer with in-depth Internet start-up experience or am I building a broad pool of functional talent such as VP- level marketing executives from any industry?  I can quickly combine projected hiring needs with past hiring data from the last year (or two) to anticipate the types of talent contacts I need to network and build. 
2. Target:  When logged on to my personal account (not my LinkedIn Recruiter tool), I search for top groups from each category needed.  For example, if I have an ongoing need to hire technology executives I simply search for technology or key word CIO in the Groups Directory.  I can click the group names to see who is in my network, and most importantly, how many degrees of "connection" we currently have between us.  1st is optimum but 2nd degree is workable.  Finding a benchmark candidate allows me to model their group choices as well.  Additionally, there is a Similar Groups link that is helpful in expanding options.
3. Join: Some groups welcome recruiters and HR generalist into their groups while others may send a response why they only accept members with specific expertise.  I've found that many groups welcome my participation.  I learn a great deal about the topics or issues related to their group and am able to share job opportunities or speak with members who proactively reach out to me.  I gain valuable contacts and become a resource to their members.

Results?  The critical advantage to analyzing, targeting and joining groups is that my search results now include the talent I need to quickly fill my positions.  I am able to use the advanced search in both my personal account and my LinkedIn Recruiter account to constrain my search results by a group in which I am a member.  This fast-tracks my process so that I am on the phone more quickly or sending out InMails as soon as possible.  Additionally, if I do not see strong search results in a targeted function, containing 1st and 2nd degree contacts, I know I need to put more effort into building stronger contacts.