Image in the Marketplace

I recently gained a new client - the decision-maker was referred to me by a Procurement professional I've known many years.  It is always such a compliment when those known well in the industry feel you are competent and choose to refer you rather than so many others - this applies to all of us! 

My new client brought something to my attention - actually, he REMINDED me of something.  One of the reasons he selected me of the other firms he was considering was because of what he read on my Linked In profile.  Not just my bio and connections, but he also liked my last blog posting as it is in alignment with the culture of their company and the partnerships they wish to form in order to successfully recruit talent.  (Subject matter for next posting :)).

I cannot stress enough the importance of having a thorough and professional profile on Linked In!  Although I follow the solid standards of true recruiting (i.e. research, networking and personal contact vs. job boards and mass internet blasts, etc), Linked In is a tool I use religiously!  And I have discovered many great, passive candidates and have recruited them to the next best step in their careers.  As a potential candidate, you may not be looking for the next step and are very happy in your current role - those are the types of candidates I love to recruit!  But you never know when you may get a call from someone like me who is working with a client on a search which is what you've always dreamed of as the next step in your career...  And if your profile is incomplete, sparse, or unprofessional, you won't get that call!