How to Find Industry Experts on LinkedIn
Learn how to find and connect with industry experts on LinkedIn to enhance your recruitment strategies. Discover advanced search techniques and research tips.
As a recruiter, you're always on the lookout for folks with the right skills, experience, and know-how to help your company soar. And guess where you can find these hard-to-find industry pros? Yes, you guessed it – LinkedIn!
LinkedIn has evolved into more than just a platform for professional networking. It's a goldmine of industry knowledge, thought leadership and top talent waiting to be discovered.
LinkedIn also offers a range of powerful tools and features that can help you uncover the hidden gems you're looking for. By leveraging these resources and employing smart search strategies, you'll be able to tap into a wealth of expertise and find the perfect candidates for your organization.
One of the lesser-known features of LinkedIn you can use is the Pulse platform, which serves as a hub for thought leadership and industry-specific content. LinkedIn Pulse organizes articles and posts into various topic pages, making it easier for users to discover content relevant to their interests.
You can access the entire Content Hub Directory Page to see all the topics that are covered by those articles. If you are looking for knowledgeable people in Sales Enablement, you can just visit that section and find dozens of articles and potential candidates.
For example, if you're looking for experts in the field of audio mixing, you can visit the dedicated topic page at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/topics/audio-mixing-s6761/.
Here, you'll find a curated list of articles and posts related to audio mixing, along with the profiles of the individuals who contributed to the topic.
You can also access all of that through an X-Ray search on Google. It's a bit more limited than what we've got, but it's still an awesome way to find people by their job titles.
However, there's a catch. If you try to access this topic page directly by running this search string, you won't get any results.
site:linkedin.com/pulse/topics/audio-mixing-s6761/This is because LinkedIn hides the profiles of these contributors under a different URL structure:
site:linkedin.com/advice/0/To uncover the profiles of the experts contributing to a specific topic, you'll need to use a modified search string. For instance, to find my contributions, you would search for:
site:linkedin.com/advice/0/ "Jan Tegze"This will display all the articles and posts I've contributed to on LinkedIn.
By navigating through LinkedIn's Pulse topics and using the appropriate search strings, you can quickly identify the most active and knowledgeable individuals in your target field.
Search Techniques
But what if you're searching for experts based on a specific topic or keyword? Let's say you're looking for individuals with experience in finance. You can start by using the search string:
site:linkedin.com/advice/0/ "Finance"This will return all articles and posts that mention the keyword "finance" in their content.
To further refine your search, you can add more specific keywords or job titles. For instance, searching for:
site:linkedin.com/advice/0/ "Director of Finance"This will help you find articles and posts authored by individuals who hold or have held the position of Director of Finance.
One of the advantages of using these search techniques is that you can quickly identify the most active people in a particular category. Those people are often constantly online and very responsive.
When you come across someone with the Top Voice badge, it's like hitting the networking jackpot. Many of these folks are super connectors and reaching out to them is a smart move, especially if your network is on the smaller side. With their help, you can tap into a larger audience and easily turn those distant 3rd level connections into closer 2nd level ones.
LinkedIn's search algorithm tends to display the profiles of individuals who frequently contribute to a specific topic or keyword at the top of comments in those articles. This means that you can easily spot the experts who are actively sharing their knowledge and engaging with their network.
This newsletter post isn't focused on advanced sourcing techniques to identify the ideal candidates for recruitment. Instead, it emphasizes the benefits of engaging in social selling, acquiring new customers, enhancing industry knowledge, and uncovering fresh keywords for your LinkedIn searches.
Benefits of Finding Active Contributors
By identifying the most engaged and knowledgeable individuals in a specific field, you gain access to a wealth of insights. Active contributors are often thought leaders and influencers within their industry (or trying to be). They regularly share their expertise, experiences, and opinions through articles, posts, and comments.
By following and engaging with these individuals, you can stay up-to-date on the latest trends, best practices, and challenges facing your target industry. This knowledge can prove invaluable when sourcing and vetting potential candidates, as you'll have a better understanding of the skills and qualifications required for success.
Moreover, active contributors tend to have a strong network of connections within their field (and they often do). They frequently interact with other professionals, participate in industry discussions, and attend relevant events. By establishing relationships with these well-connected individuals, you can tap into their network and even gain referrals to other talented professionals who may be a good fit for your organization.
Another significant benefit of finding active contributors is the opportunity to learn from their shared knowledge and experiences. These experts often provide valuable insights into the day-to-day realities of working in their field, the challenges they face, and the strategies they employ to overcome obstacles.
Why is This Approach Useful
This approach is great for outreach messages! One effective way to personalize your communication is by leveraging the information you've gained from reading the expert's contributions. When reaching out, mention a specific article or answer that resonated with you or sparked your curiosity. Share your thoughts on the topic and explain how their insights have influenced your perspective or approach to recruitment.
By demonstrating that you've taken the time to read and engage with their content, you show genuine interest and appreciation for their expertise. This approach helps to establish common ground and creates a foundation for a more meaningful and productive conversation.
But the main reason? It's all about research!
Especially if you're diving into a position or industry you're not too familiar with, this is the quickest way to get up to speed.
As you analyze their profiles, pay attention to the following:
Skills and Expertise: What specific skills and knowledge do these experts possess? Are there any recurring themes or key competencies that stand out? Understanding the most sought-after skills in your target industry can help you refine your job descriptions and candidate requirements.
Experience and Background: Look at the career trajectories of these industry experts. What types of companies have they worked for? What roles and responsibilities have they held? This information can provide valuable insights into the ideal candidate profile and help you identify potential sources for talent.
Job Titles and Terminology: As you review the profiles of active contributors, take note of the various job titles they hold or have held in the past. Are there any emerging or unconventional titles that you hadn't considered before? Understanding the evolving terminology in your industry can help you expand your search criteria and attract a wider pool of qualified candidates.
Education and Certifications: Pay attention to the educational backgrounds and professional certifications of the experts you find. Are there any specific programs or credentials that are commonly held by top performers in your industry? This information can guide your recruitment efforts and help you identify educational institutions or certification bodies to partner with.
As you gather these insights, consider creating a document or spreadsheet to organize your findings. This will allow you to easily reference and share the information with your recruitment team, helping to align your strategies and priorities.
Remember, conducting research for recruitment is an ongoing process! As industries evolve and new trends emerge, it's essential to stay up-to-date and adapt your strategies accordingly.
By regularly engaging with industry experts and monitoring the content they share, you can stay ahead of the curve and position yourself as a knowledgeable and proactive recruiter.
Industry Experts on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a powerful tool for recruiters looking to find and connect with industry experts. By leveraging features like LinkedIn Pulse, advanced search techniques, and the ability to identify active contributors, you can gain valuable insights, expand your network, and ultimately discover top talent for your organization.
Remember, finding industry experts on LinkedIn is an ongoing process. As industries evolve and new trends emerge, it's crucial to stay engaged, adaptable, and proactive in your approach. By continuously learning from thought leaders, participating in industry discussions, and refining your recruitment strategies, you'll position yourself as a knowledgeable and effective recruiter.
So, embrace the power of LinkedIn, dive into the world of industry experts, and unlock the full potential of your recruitment efforts. With dedication, curiosity, and a commitment to building authentic relationships, you'll find the right talent to drive your organization's success.
Happy recruiting!
Jan
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