They sure do. Or maybe they don’t… depending on your viewpoint. Don’t worry, I’ll explain.

Consider this: a 2012 Jobvite survey showed 93-percent of recruiters were tapping into LinkedIn to source talent.

I assume that number is larger now since this survey was conducted five years ago. Regardless, the numbers speak to LinkedIn’s ever increasing influence and relevance in the employment landscape.

So yes, recruiters and hiring managers DO care about being able to find talented job candidates on LinkedIn; and yet maybe they DON’T care about those job seekers who can’t be bothered to create a profile on a FREE platform that allows them to be found. Hopefully that makes sense.

If you’re among those hesitant to join LinkedIn, I get it. Some people just aren’t comfortable with the level of visibility and accessibility that comes with having an online profile. Obviously you can choose not to include a LinkedIn profile as part of your career marketing strategy if you want; but it’s important to understand what you could miss out on by making that decision:

Increasing Your “Searchability”

As I mentioned, at least 93-percent of recruiters utilize LinkedIn to find candidates they can connect with the companies they represent. Obviously if you’re not on LinkedIn, you can’t be found. Consider also that when you submit your resume in response to a job opportunity, the hiring manager  will review your resume. If he/she is interested, they will usually search for you in Google for more information. Some go directly to LinkedIn to search.

Certain professional terms and keywords can increase your likelihood of being found on both LinkedIn and more popular Internet search engines.

Managing and Promoting Your Brand

Your brand communicates your value. Your area(s) of expertise. Your authority. What you bring to the table. Having a clear brand differentiates you from other’s in you field, and that can really amplify your job search success.  Employers can identify your strengths while getting a glimpse into who you are and what’s important to you individually.

They expect to see some sort of digital footprint. Your social media profiles, blogs, etc. can provide a glimpse of your personality which can also help employers determine whether you’ll be a good fit within their organizational culture.

Growing Your Network of Contacts

When you consider the fact that 75-percent of job seekers secure jobs through the people they know, it doesn’t take a genius to recognize the benefits of building a large network. LinkedIn makes it so easy to establish connections with others by sending and accepting individual invitations, actively sharing newsworthy/informative updates, and joining and participating in professional groups.

Building Professional Credibility with Recommendations

Nothing builds trust and professional credibility quite like a referral from someone who has only good things to say about the work you do. It’s what makes LinkedIn recommendations so powerful. Recommendations can brag about how well you solved a problem, increased market share, or saved the company a significant amount of money. They’re tangible proof of how beneficial you were to previous employers and/or clients.

Even if you’re still on the fence about including LinkedIn as a tool in your career communications arsenal, it’s important that you understand it’s purpose and value so you can make an informed decision.

 Photo Credit: Markus Petritz