How to use LinkedIn to Recruit

Here we are, smashing the old, tired notion that LinkedIn is merely a playground for recruiters and desperate job hunters – that’s b*llocks. It's high time to ditch the old ways and embrace LinkedIn for what it's truly become. It’s not just a job board anymore, it’s your chance to demonstrate employer brand and employee advocacy. Show off that company culture and you might just attract the kind of talent that’s actually worth bragging about.

People ask us all the time whether LinkedIn is good for recruitment. It’s fu*king great, but you’ve got to know how to do it in the first place. We’re all bored and sick to the back teeth of all those dry job adverts on LinkedIn. The ones that literally just list job requirements, with 0 personality. Surely you want people to look at this job offer and think “yeah, they look mega, I want to work for them”. At co&co, we went far beyond the conventional way of recruiting and guess what? It bloody worked.

People didn’t just like it; they loved it. It was for a Business Development job, plain and simple – nothing out of the ordinary. But because it was honest and had personality, we had all types of people saying “what a fuc*ing great job spec”. Being smart about it wasn’t just a choice; it was our strategy. This wasn’t just about slapping a job title and a list of demands out into the world. F*ck that. We leveraged that spec to paint a great picture of what it’s really like to work at co&co. We used this job spec to demonstrate the brand of the business … and it worked.

So let’s get into it, how can you use LinkedIn to recruit? If you’re willing to add a bit of flair and personality, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Cut the Corporate Sh*t

First things first, get rid of the corporate jargon. No one gets a buzz from terms like "synergy" or "dynamic self-starter”. Speak like a human. You’re looking for a real person, not a programmed robot, we have ChatGPT for that lads. Be clear about what you’re offering and what you expect, but keep it conversational. Don’t overcomplicate things. Remember, you're having a conversation with potential future teammates. Use language that resonates, that feels genuine, and that sparks a bit of excitement.

You need to be clear about what you want. Clarity is your new best friend. Tell it straight – what's the job, what will they actually be doing, and what are you genuinely looking for in a candidate? If you need someone who's mega at turning data into stories, say that. If you're after a creative mind who can think outside the box, spell it out. And while you're at it, chuck out any requirement that's not a deal-breaker. You're looking for a real person with real skills, not a mythical creature that ticks all the boxes.

Show Off Your Company Culture

People don’t just apply for a job; they apply for the culture. Use your LinkedIn ad to showcase what makes your company unique. Got a team that works hard and plays hard? Say it. Your office is dog-friendly? Mention it. Make your company sound like somewhere people want to work. In our office, a chat over a Guinness is non-negotiable.

Don’t Be Boring

Job ads on LinkedIn or anywhere else don’t have to be a fat snooze fest. We’re not saying you have to go massively out of your comfort zone and “lose all professionalism”, but make your marks by showcasking your brand, its tone of voice and the culture of the workplace. Let’s use our co&co job advert as an example:

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💥 𝗪𝗘'𝗥𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚. 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗬 𝗜𝗧? 💥

Ok, first things first...

Recruiters, keep scrolling, this ain't for you lads...

2024 is looking like a big year for co&co, and we are looking for a bit of a unicorn to join the team 🦄

𝗦𝗼, 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻?

You will be involved in three key areas:

💰 Online and offline business development

🏆 Marketing & promoting the agency

📋 Project management & assistance

In the words of 5 lads from America...

𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚,

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢,

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙙,

𝘼𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨....

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀...

👉 Magic: You make sh*t happen for fun

👉 Grafter: You aren't afraid of hard work

👉 Social: You wanna' get out and about

👉 Banter: You can take a joke and give one

👉 Independent: You don't need babysitting

👉 Switched on: You can think for yourself

👉 Confident: You can talk to anyone

👉 Passionate: You don't clock watch

👉 Fun: You like to have a laugh

👉 Real: You sometimes swear a bit

𝗙𝗲𝘄 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄...

✔️ You will be working directly alongside Jordan Stachini and Sophie Kimmance.

✔️ The package is salary + uncapped commission.

✔️ The role is initially part-time to go full-time after 6 - 12 months.

✔️ Flexible working with an office in Manchester City Centre.

✔️ Previous agency experience in a similar role is a bonus but not a deal breaker.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱? 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 ✌️jordan@wearecoandco.com

𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿? 𝗧𝗮𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. 👇

P.S. Those who had to Google 'who are these 5 lads from America', need not apply ✌️

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Now what sets this application apart is that it is so FAR from your usual job advert. Forget the formalities. You will attract the right people for YOUR brand if you are honest about what you want. Your job ad should be as unique as your company culture. Here’s why ours worked:

✅ It’s bloody honest: We say it as it is, no sugar-coating. Honesty is the best policy. No bullsh*tting.

✅ It’s got personality: It reads like we talk. Because why the fu*k not?

✅ It stands out: It’s authentic and true to our brand’s tone of voice.

✅ It’s engaging: We make the job sound like something you’d actually want to do.

What would be the point in us crafting a job advert that doesn’t read like we would talk? Job adverts don’t need to be boring. We’re not saying they should be daft either, but they need to speak to the right people. Your candidates need to know what they’re getting into. For us, if you can’t have a bit of banter, then sorry you aren’t for us. It is what it is. Honesty and transparency from the very beginning is productive for both sides.

Use Visuals To Get Attention

Ditch the stock photos of people in suits shaking hands. Instead, use real photos from your office, your team outings, or even your last Christmas party. Let those potential candidates picture themselves there. This video gave a glimpse into co&co’s company culture which is mega important. This can help you position your job advert as having a unique edge that other companies don’t have.

Or … if you prefer just a visual. This works too 😂👇

People might think we went too far with ours when we said “no d*ckheads please” but we stand by what we said and were honest about it. And to our surprise, no d*ckheads applied so it worked a treat. 10/10 would do again.

Make Applying Easy

This is really easy but we see so many people getting it wrong. Don’t make it hard for the sake of it. Don’t be that company. Make applying as straightforward as possible. If you can, allow applications directly through LinkedIn. The less friction, the better.

The Moral of the Story?

LinkedIn is crowded with the same old recruitment ads, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Be bold, be different, and most importantly, be you. That’s how you’ll find your unicorn in a field of horses.

So, next time you’re drafting that job ad for LinkedIn, ask yourself: “Would I apply for this?” If the answer’s anything but “F*ck yes,” then you need to go again.

At co&co, we’re not just about making noise; we’re about making the right kind of noise. And that’s exactly what we do when we recruit. We're here to help you. Whether it's with your LinkedIn management, LinkedIn training, branding, or event planning, co&co has got your back. Let's make some noise and get you noticed. Fancy working together?