LinkedIn is not just a social network for professionals, but if used in the right manner, it can help staffing agencies get the best talent in any field. But with over 500 million users, there are also other recruiters in need of the very talent you are hoping to acquire, and unless you set yourself apart, the best you can end up with are average recruits. Use these tips to recruit on LinkedIn like a pro.

Get in touch with shortlisted candidates

Top talent normally have recruiters knocking at their doors. If you want to get the best talent through LinkedIn, be sure to go through their profiles, the content they share and the kind of engagements they are having with their peers. Know as much as you can about them and the kind of things they hold dear, so that you can approach them in a more personalized manner and have them work for you.

Use LinkedIn’s Search Feature

LinkedIn is designed with a very powerful search feature that allows you to sift through millions of users based on the specific criteria you desire of your candidates. You can filter through potential candidates using schools, locations, companies, non-profit interests, functions, specific industries and so on. You can also do the search using specific keywords in your industry and you will end up with lots of potential candidates that you can subject to further scrutiny.

Take advantage of LinkedIn Groups

With groups, you can get promising candidates you might have missed through its search functionality. Some users will not fill out their public profiles with a lot of information, but will actively participate in their relevant groups. It is in such groups that they will display the depth of their knowledge through the various discussions, and the kinds of engagements going on in the group.