Stop The Madness: 4 Things Recruiters Should NEVER Do On LinkedIn

Okay, so maybe the whole, “Stop the Madness!” declaration was a bit dramatic…

Still, as the sales recruiting authority, can you really blame me for evangelizing this topic to protect those of us that really take the time and care to engage in a meaningful way (and NOT just on LinkedIn by the way)? For me and for now, this platform is an extremely valuable tool in my kit for many aspects of my business—even when they decide to make painful changes…

It’s not just me—most of the quality recruiters in my network feel the same way. Because of this, when we see or hear about other recruiters using the platform incorrectly, it infuriates us to say the least…

So, is today’s post directed towards you? I hope not, as it’s never fun cleaning up after your mess and working hard to right so many of your wrongs!

Though you might be part of the solution, there’s a chance you’re making a shameful error or two, as well—contributing to the problem I’m afraid. Either way, you’ll need to keep reading to find out:

* Mistake #1: Solicit Helpful Introductions from Complete Strangers

Don’t get me wrong—LinkedIn is great for meeting new people.

That said, if you’re firing off random connection requests (with zero context or personalization in your invite) to try and tap into the powers of other people’s personal networks, take it from me—you’re not transmitting the right message.

Think about it—after connecting, with little knowledge of who a person is or what they do, if you immediately ask for an introduction and make it ALL about what you want, you’re saying one thing, and one thing alone …

“For me, you’re simply a means to an end and I couldn’t care less about you.”

Not cool, peeps…

* Mistake #2: Forego Introductions When They Rightfully Make Sense

Somewhat related to the first item on our list, I see this one all the time …

If you and a prospect have a mutual connection, as opposed to firing off a random Inmail message, kindly request your contact to make an introduction and illustrate why. It’s even better if you offer your assistance to return the favor if it can be helpful to said connection.

Besides, isn’t this what introductions are for (when engaged properly)?

Take this one with a grain of salt, though—if your mutual connection is some arbitrary person you once ate lunch with back in college, it might not be strong enough for this kind of technique.

* Mistake #3: Bludgeon Prospects with Immediate Sales Pitches

Have you ever been to the mall and walked by any of the skincare kiosks?

More often than not, the second you pass by, some very aggressive person waiving a sample hits you up with a question somewhere along the lines of, “Are you happy with your skin, check out my cure for your skin”?

Even if you’re not, chances are you decline the invitation to have him or her follow you around until you duck into the closest store.

If you think this is annoying and off-putting, imagine how cumbersome it feels to have someone do the exact same thing on LinkedIn, only instead of merely asking a question, they make a full-blown pitch (most of the time a COMPLETELY irrelevant one at that).

When you send a potential candidate a connection request, only to instantly try and sell them on an opening, you come off as rude, self-serving, unprofessional, desperate and annoying. Is that really your desired effect?

Here’s a sad story to really drive this point home. I recently received an Inmail myself attempting to recruit me into a role that had nothing to do with my background. This was coming from a fellow 3rd party recruiter. I mean come on, did they not read my profile to see that I own my own business AND have nothing to do with their search. I was beyond appalled to say the least.

Remember the golden rule people and put yourself in the other person’s shoes – it’s not that difficult and will yield much stronger results in the end.

* Mistake #4: Give Lengthy Assignments to Potential Candidates

We live in a very information-heavy day and age.

Though LinkedIn is certainly a valuable platform, it’s far from the only channel your prospects frequent—take this into consideration when making initial contact.

Rather than asking for a résumé (it’s LinkedIn, people), cover letter and three references right off the bat because it makes your life easier, start a simple conversation to get to know them—after all, your first order of business is to get a response and to build a foundation for a relationship in the process.

Save the other, more formal stuff for a later date when it makes sense. To this point, if you have zero intention of contacting this person again or they don’t “fit” where you spend your time—be upfront and don’t waste time with unnecessary requests creating false expectations.

Conclusion

Guilty of indulging in any of the above behaviors?

You’re not alone, most aren’t stranger to at least one of them. Don’t do more of the same, though. Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity rings true.

Choose today to set the record straight, using LinkedIn as it was originally intended: to make a meaningful connection! You’ll see dramatic results, I promise.

Now it’s your turn to weigh in. I’m curious to hear what you’ve experienced. What are a few of your biggest LinkedIn pet peeves—that way, we can all stay safe?

Until then, thanks for reading!