How to connect LinkedIn to an Applicant Tracking System
Since its launch in 2003, LinkedIn has become the largest online professional network in the world. With a database of millions it is one of the leading recruitment and Employer Branding channels. Finding the best way to use the advanced recruiting features of this platform is not easy.
In this post we want to present the main LinkedIn features for recruitment and also how to connect LinkedIn with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
LinkedIn offers several channels to support the search for personnel:
- Publishing a job post on the business page
- Publishing a post in the ‘career’ section of the business page (a paid feature)
- Publishing a post on the personal user’s page of business user
- Publishing a post in groups
- Posting an ad in the ‘Jobs’ section, or the internal LinkedIn job board (paid for).
Usually when a job ad is published, the recruiter who manages it indicates a link or email address to allow candidates to submit their CV. Through the various channels the company will generally obtain good search visibility and a high number of CVs that are then managed and tracked according to the company’s recruiting procedures.
To date however, LinkedIn (even the ‘recruiter’ version) does not offer all the features of an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or Recruitment Software, which allow you to manage the entire selection process accurately and specifically. As a result there is a risk that using LinkedIn exclusively does not guarantee that the recruiting team will meet their goals.
However, it is possible to connect LinkedIn with an Applicant Tracking System, so that you can make the most of the specific benefits of both solutions.
Instructions to connect LinkedIn with your Applicant Tracking System
By using an Applicant Tracking System (for example In-recruiting) is it possible to integrate the ads posted in the LinkedIn ‘Jobs’ section (that is, the paid for section) within your ATS, so that you can direct all of the applicants to In-recruiting and optimise your CV management.
It’s a quick and easy task: when creating an ad in LinkedIn add the unique link from the In-recruiting platform to the field on LinkedIn, as shown in the following image:
This way, when candidates see the ad on LinkedIn, they will find the ‘Apply on Company website’ button which will take them directly to the In-recruiting registration form chosen for the ad (integrated with the company’s career page).
The benefits of integrating LinkedIn with an Applicant Tracking System
Integrating LinkedIn with your Applicant Tracking System (in this case In-recruiting) offers two key benefits:
1. Applications are centralised within In-recruiting, with the ability to track the applicants from Job boards and manage the recruiting process, also collaborating in real-time with the recruitment team
2. Candidates must complete the registration form chosen by the company for the ad, which leads to optimal collection of information and candidate profiles, and speeds up the pre-screening phase.
In addition to integrating In-recruiting with the paid ads on LinkedIn, you can also share your vacancy with the followers of your company career page and your own contacts (in the case of a recruiter).
Publishing the details of a vacancy on a showcase page also allows you to establish direct communication with users and their network, enhancing visibility and interest of your ad and reinforcing your Employer Branding.
You can also use many of the different groups on LinkedIn, publishing the vacancy in specific groups to attract candidates with the most appropriate skills and interests.
If your business is already posting your ads on LinkedIn and would like to integrate it with a next generation Applicant Tracking System, we’d like to draw your attention to our free 14 day trial of In-recruiting.