UK professionals are more than twice as likely to get approached by recruiters about ill-suited roles than their international counterparts, according to a study by LinkedIn.
In the 2016 Top Talent Trends report more than a third (36%) of UK professionals claimed they have been ‘put off’ by a recruiter contacting them with information about unsuitable jobs. The global average was 15%.
Dan Dackombe, EMEA director of LinkedIn Talent Solutions, warned that recruiters are not utilising all of the information available. “The UK recruitment industry is one of the most advanced in the world, but recruiters risk shooting themselves in the foot by not making use of the information that’s out there,” he said. “Social media has made it possible for recruiters to identify potential candidates who may not be actively looking for a new role, but the rules of engagement are different. Gaining a better understanding of what makes someone tick will help you build the relationship, and help you attract the best talent into your organisation.”
The research also found that when candidates first hear about a new vacancy 77% of UK-based individuals look at the company’s website, compared to the global average of 59%. More than four in 10 (43%) would search for articles about the potential employer, and 33% would find employee profiles to check out their prospective future colleagues. More than half (52%) would ensure they had updated their CV before applying.
When looking for a new position 44% of those surveyed claimed that not knowing what it is like to work for a particular company put them off. A third (33%) felt uncomfortable when they were not sure what the role would demand of them, and 31% found businesses that delayed getting back to them to be off-putting.
The top way UK candidates get a job is through an employee referral; 41% of respondents had obtained a role this way. More than a third (36%) had been successful using a third-party job board, a further 36% had been successful using a third-party staffing firm, and 35% landed a new role by applying though a company website.
