Using LinkedIn for recruiting is not a new idea, actually using any social network software for recruiting is not new either. But I wonder what the success rate is? I suspect low.
I have received lots of notes over the last few years from recruiters wanting to connect or looking for applicants, most I ignore.
Today is a little different as I received a note, not a connection request, from a recruiter that I am actually responding to.
Why? Because of the approach.
- First it was targeted, they are looking for a “Director of Technology, Human Resources”, which was the subject line and immediately got my interest.
- Second the first words were “Please excuse the intrusion”, an acknowledgment that they were taking time out of my day.
- They went on to give a quick background of the job in 2 sentences, then stated why they contacted me, cause of my background essentially sucking up.
- In the end an offer to send me the briefing document to forward to possible interested parties and then thanked me again for my time.
Personally I find that this approach works well both in email and over the phone, more than likely I will bite. The steps are simple:-
- Acknowledge that you are taking time out of my day
- Make it relevant, the more targeted the contact the higher the chance of success
- Flattery gets you everywhere
- Accept if I don’t reply it is that the contact is not relevant enough or I am just too busy
The opposite, trying to randomly connect in the network, a “hey can you help?” or “are you available?” note, just does not work.
Michael Specht 
Michael,
That has been the classic ‘old school’ headhunt approach for as long as I can remember. Except it used to be done on the phone, prefaced with something like “a respected industry contact suggested I call you”.
Kevin