People Management

LinkedIn Jobs: If You Post It, They Will Come

By Vivian Manning

I just hired a great new employee using LinkedIn Jobs. It turned out to be an incredibly easy and effective way to identify good candidates and fill the position with a minimum of effort. Deciding between candidates was the only tough part of the process! How did it work? Here are the basics of conducting a LinkedIn search for a new employee.

Searching for a New Hire

Not knowing what to expect, I headed straight to Post a Job in LinkedIn’s Jobs section, and found that the process couldn’t have been easier. I also found that the monthly price for posting a job was very reasonable at $195 for a month—less than the local newspaper want ads, and the reach was wider. Compared to other online services, the price was more reasonable and the reach more focused, too.

  • Build a firm profile. Since job postings are tied into LinkedIn company profiles, you will need to set up your firm profile right away if you don’t already have one. Go to the LinkedIn Learning Center’s Company Pages if you need assistance. It’s free and you’ll use it for other things in the future.
  • Post your opening. Actually, posting the job is simply a “follow the steps” routine, but if you want you can review the process at the LinkedIn Learning Center’s Post a Job link. It’s good to know, for example, that if you make an error in the posting, you can go back and edit it. When you’ve completed the job details and are ready to post, just whip out your credit card and pay online. Applicants reviewing the job posting will not see your email address, so you have no worries about being inundated with emails and phone calls. In fact, all of your personal information is hidden.
  • Watch the applications roll in. People applying for the job are asked to upload their resume, cover letter and references as part of their application. Once someone applies, LinkedIn Jobs will send you an email with a summary of the applicant’s LinkedIn Profile, along with all the documents the applicant submitted. You have the ability to click through to their full profile. Also, each email includes a link to view all of the candidates applying for the job to date. You’ll use that!
  • Schedule the interviews. That’s the end of the LinkedIn involvement. Once you receive the emails with profiles and resumes, you can proceed as usual to contact applicants and arrange interviews.

My recent LinkedIn job posting triggered 21 responses, every one qualified for the position. In a small city with a population of about 150,000 that’s an amazing response. Given the ease and low cost of the posting, and the high quality of the applications, I will use LinkedIn Jobs in the future, without hesitation.

Oh, and if you’re on the other end of the job search process, seeking that perfect job, I encourage you to set up a full LinkedIn profile and set about reviewing the Job postings regularly. LinkedIn’s Learning Center has a great help page to get you started at Job Seekers.

Vivian Manning is the IT Manager at Burgar Rowe PC in Barrie, Bracebridge and Cookstown, Ontario. Prior to moving into IT, Vivian practiced law at Burgar Rowe primarily in the area of Municipal Land Development, with a total of 17 years in private practice before switching to the IT end of the law office. She currently indulges her love of teaching tech through her blog Small City Law Firm Tech, where she provides “tips of the day.”

Categories: Daily Dispatch, Law Firm Hiring, Law Firm People Management, Legal Career Development
Originally published August 29, 2011
Last updated October 19, 2019
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Vivian Manning

Vivian Manning retired from Barriston Law LLP in Barrie, Bracebridge and Cookstown, Ontario in 2019. For more than 16 years she served as the firm’s IT manager, office manager and technology trainer. Prior to moving into IT, Vivian practiced law at Barriston LLP (formerly Burgar Rowe PC) primarily in the area of Municipal Land Development, with a total of 17 years in private practice before switching to the IT side of the law office.

 

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