How to Headhunt for Talents on LinkedIn: Malaysian Employers Edition

Workforce management — and in fact, beyond — has undergone a huge digital transformation in recent years. Where there were once huge piles of paperwork and physical documentation, there is now all-in-one digital tools like altHR, and where there were once the job classifieds section, there are now online job platforms such as Jobstreet, Hiredly, and plenty more. 

Arguably, LinkedIn has become the place to be when it comes to professional networking, and the platform is now regarded as a go-to resource for connecting employers and candidates. But how do you truly get the most out of using the platform? 

Here are a couple of useful tips for Malaysian businesses looking to find the best would-be employees on LinkedIn. 

1. Make sure your job descriptions/postings are relevant and detailed

This doesn’t just apply to LinkedIn, of course. When posting job openings, be sure to include as much information as required for the role — relevant job descriptions are crucial in ensuring that you attract the right candidates. Include the required experience level for the position, the necessary skills candidates must have, and anything else that is relevant to the job. 

Keep in mind that many candidates discover job openings by searching for specific keywords, so try to be as detailed as possible in this section. Conduct research into job titles and industry-relevant details, while ensuring that your job postings are updated. Another tip here is to get your employees to “Share That You’re Hiring” on LinkedIn, too.  

2. Build a solid company LinkedIn profile

A strong digital presence is key in employer branding, which is an important component of recruiting the best candidates for your company. Be sure to showcase the benefits of working with your company on your business profile, where would-be employees will come across all of your available job openings. 

But don’t limit your LinkedIn profile activity to job openings or recruitment activities. Instead, build your company profile up by regularly posting regular content that is relevant to your industry, or even the type of work-life culture that shapes the dynamic at your organisation. 

3. The “Open to Work” feature on LinkedIn

If you’re having trouble finding candidates that match the job profile, it might be worth exploring candidates by filtering them. You can do this by running a search in Recruiter on LinkedIn and selecting “Open to New Opportunities” link. 

This will help to find you candidates who are actively looking — or at least, are in the market — for a new opportunity. There are also filters for where potential candidates want to work, so try to refine your search to customise your results to your company’s needs/wants in this regard. 

4. Build your own professional profile as a recruiter/headhunter

Besides your company profile, you’re also best advised to build your own professional network, particularly in recruiting circles, or even as a founder for your company. Again, share relevant content to your interests/industry, and be sure to connect with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) while engaging with the right discussions on LinkedIn. 

Similar to your company profile, this ensures a wider reach when looking for potential employees, while a good professional network also ensures that you are in tune with current market movements or changes in your industry. 

5. Leverage LinkedIn Recruiter

If you’re working in HR, or you’re an employer looking to actively hire, it’s worth considering a subscription to LinkedIn Recruiter. As a category under LinkedIn Premium, LinkedIn Recruiter is divided into two tiers: Recruiter and Recruiter Lite. 

As per its naming, Recruiter Lite is an option that is perhaps more suited for those with low-volume hiring requirements, such as smaller organisations. However, if you’re looking to hire more aggressively over the medium-to-long term, or if you’re a recruiter at a larger enterprise company, a better option here is LinkedIn Recruiter.

Both plans unlock 3rd-degree connections, which can be used to expand your search reach when looking for relevant candidates. Something worth noting is that only Recruiter allows you to filter by Skills Assessments — a useful tool in ensuring that candidates sourced have an understanding of a specific competency. 

Find out more about that here.