Recruiter Search & Candidate Ranking Basics
Recruiters use LinkedIn quite differently from how candidates use LinkedIn. When searching for candidates, recruiters will use what are known as Boolean Search Strings. In case you don’t know what these are, they are complex search terms where you combine multiple phrases with AND, OR, NOT.
Here’s an example.
We are looking for a Research Manager with at least 10 years experience, with qualitative and quantitative research experience. They can be located in Kenya, Ghana, Cote D’ivoire, Tanzania or Namibia. A boolean search could combine these areas: (‘Research Manager’ OR ‘Insights Manager’ OR ‘Analytics Manager’) AND (‘Qualitative’ AND ‘Quantitative’) AND (‘Kenya’ OR ‘Ghana’OR ‘Cote D’ivoire’ OR ‘Tanzania’ OR ‘Namibia’).
LinkedIn will then show a host of profiles of candidates matching this search.
What are Some Reasons Candidate Profiles Rank Poorly?
• Is your profile incomplete? Your profile doesn’t contain enough information e.g. you only have your job titles on your profile.
• Is your profile dormant? You rarely access your account. LinkedIn doesn’t want to recommend profiles of users that are unlikely to respond! Other users (and its revenues) would quickly leave.
• Does your profile lack endorsements? Endorsements and recommendations are a sign that other people believe you are good. Profiles that don’t have either lack credibility.
• Is the information you have on your profile relevant to the search? If you are seeking higher roles, your profile needs to be relevant in searches for jobs you are seeking not the job you have. This is a common mistake made on LinkedIn that will keep you stuck at the same level. More on this in the summary and experiences section. PS: Beware of the temptation to stuff your profile with keywords. LinkedIn employs spam detection algorithms that negatively impact the ranking of such profiles!
How Does LinkedIn Work?
LinkedIn works on an algorithm. In fact, the major social networks like Facebook and even the Google search engine are ALL powered by algorithms. While it isn’t public knowledge how their algorithms, the principle is relatively the same.
They are leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and other tools. These are smart computer programs that reward users (whether business or personal accounts) on these key areas: Completeness, Relevance, Recency and Endorsement by others.
· Completeness: On LinkedIn, a complete profile will receive the All-Star badge. It tells the algorithm, ‘Here’s someone who is invested in the platform’.
· Relevance: This tells the algorithm ‘ Here is someone who knows a lot about topic X or has a lot of experience and skill in X or Y’.
· Endorsement: This tells the algorithm, ‘Now here is someone many people trust and recommend. There must be something here’.
· Recency: This tells LinkedIn,’ This person is active on the platform. They are keeping their information current or sharing content regularly.’ LinkedIn prioritizes active profiles because their clients and users don’t want to message profiles and get delayed or no responses?!
The algorithm then computes these and other factors to show your results. If your profile is incomplete, lacks great content or credibility, you have no one endorsing you and you rarely use LinkedIn, you are disadvantaging yourself. Let’s correct that together.
It’s not crucial to understand the science behind the LinkedIn algorithm or become an expert in Boolean search. Far from it. This course will guide you in quickly and easily putting together a great profile that will win over people and the algorithm!
In this lesson, I gave you a quick overview of LinkedIn, how recruiters use it and how candidates are ranked. In the next lesson, we’ll put your profile together starting with your contact information.