Will LinkedIn’s new “Apply” button help you find better candidates?

At the end of the summer of 2011, with the economy at all time lows and unemployment at all time highs, LinkedIn launched an “Apply Now” button that recruiters can use to invite candidates to apply for open positions. As hiring professionals, we can use all the free tools and support we can get to increase the likelihood of attracting great candidates. This new plug-in application allows recruiters to tap into a powerful social networking tool that encourages the most proactive and talented candidates to apply.

Will the LinkedIn new “Apply” button help you find better candidates? The answers may surprise you.

One button for all job openings. Perhaps one of the best features of the LinkedIn button is that you may designate the URL for your company career webpage. By using this coded plug in on all your job postings consistently, candidates will come directly to your doorstep.

Makes the application process more efficient. By using the LinkedIn apply function, you can eliminate the need for outsourcing all your job postings to paid career websites that require lengthy application and resume forms. Many times, if an application takes too long to complete, candidates move along to another company.

More information on candidates pre-interview. With the LinkedIn application, candidates give you immediate access to their LinkedIn profile information, which can provide you with much more insight. You can check their online resume, portfolio, networks and see if they are applying for competitor assignments.

Customization of hiring tools. The LinkedIn apply application can help you create a more branded look for your company, which appeals to higher-level candidates. Change the colors, size and even add your company logo for a button that’s all your own.

Screening questions built in. Perhaps one of the coolest features of the LinkedIn apply application is it’s ability to include several standard questions (career history, contact info) plus three “yes” or “no” answer questions. Use these for critical hiring questions you need to weed out unqualified candidates.

Applicant tracking by job opening. Another key feature of LinkedIn’s apply technology is it’s ability to incorporate a job id number during the application process This enables you to identify top candidates specifically by job number, eliminating wasted time reading through ineligible resumes.

Want more information about the technical use of the LinkedIn “Apply” application for use in your help wanted ads?

Visit the main LinkedIn development page here, or consult with Cornerstone Staffing for support with all your recruiting needs.

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