The Sourceful Newsletter - Issue #22
WHO IS HIRING? WHO IS LOOKING?
In this unfriendly economy, affecting Recruiters internationally, we want to help to connect Recruiters and Sourcers who are open to work with possibilities. Please email us at help@sourcingcertification.com with the subject "For the Newsletter. Looking" or "For the Newsletter. Hiring." We will be including your write-ups in future newsletters. Please phrase your goals in one paragraph outlining the details of what you are seeking.
Handling LinkedIn’s Data Inaccuracies (written in collaboration with ChatGPT)
LinkedIn is a powerful tool for recruiters, but (mildly speaking) it is not without its flaws. Data inaccuracies can impact your search results and make it challenging to find the right candidates. Let’s look in some detail at common data inaccuracies on LinkedIn and strategies to mitigate these issues for more accurate and reliable results.
Common Data Inaccuracies
Several types of data inaccuracies can affect your LinkedIn searches. Understanding these issues is the first step toward addressing them.
1. Incomplete Profiles:
Many LinkedIn users do not fully complete their profiles. Missing information such as job titles, skills, and education can lead to incomplete search results.
2. Outdated Information:
Users may not regularly update their profiles, resulting in outdated job titles, company affiliations, and locations.
3. Inconsistent Data Entry:
Users may enter information inconsistently, using different formats or terms for the same job titles or skills.
4. Misleading Endorsements:
Endorsements for skills can be misleading if they come from connections who are not familiar with the user's actual capabilities.
5. Inferred Skills Errors:
LinkedIn’s algorithm for inferring skills can misinterpret profile data, leading to incorrect or irrelevant skills being found.
Impact of Data Inaccuracies
Data inaccuracies can have several negative impacts on your recruiting efforts:
Missed Candidates: Incomplete or outdated profiles can lead to missing potential candidates who might be a perfect fit.
Irrelevant Results: Inconsistent data entry and inferred skills errors can result in irrelevant profiles appearing in your search results.
Inefficient Searches: Sorting through inaccurate or irrelevant profiles wastes valuable time and resources.
Strategies to Mitigate Data Inaccuracies
While you cannot eliminate data inaccuracies, you can employ strategies to mitigate their impact and improve your search outcomes.
1. Use Boolean Logic for Precision:
Boolean operators can help refine your searches and account for variations in data entry.
2. Leverage LinkedIn Filters:
Use LinkedIn’s advanced filters to narrow down search results. Filters such as location, current company, and industry can help you focus on the most relevant profiles. Favor text (i.e., Boolean) over selection in your searches.
3. Cross-Reference with Other Sources:
Cross-reference LinkedIn profiles with other platforms like GitHub, personal websites, or other social networks to validate information. This is particularly useful for technical roles where additional data points can confirm a candidate’s skills and experience.
4. Utilize External Tools:
Tools like SalesQL, SeekOut, and Phantombuster can enhance LinkedIn searches by providing additional data points and cross-referencing capabilities. These tools can help fill in gaps and correct inaccuracies in LinkedIn profiles.
5. Monitor and Adjust Search Strategies:
Regularly review the performance of your search strategies and adjust as needed. Pay attention to common inaccuracies in your results and refine your search criteria to address these issues.
EVENTS FOR RECRUITERS
AI Bootcamp for Sourcing and Recruitment (July 23-25 @ 8 to 9 AM Pacific each day) - Explore the exciting realm of AI in recruitment with our engaging class on ChatGPT and AI tools! You'll learn about ChatGPT as a representative example for chatbot style AI interfaces. Combining real-time search, 'no code' data analysis and manipulation, and image generation into a single conversational user interface makes ChatGPT our top recommend for recruitment and sourcing. We will provide you with deeper insight into every major offering in the conversational AI space. You'll understand the differences as well as key considerations and metrics when selecting the right tool for you. Beyond conversational AI, you'll learn about several 'must have' AI-powered tools with no prompting required.
Become a Certified Diversity Recruiter (September 24-27 @ 8 to 9 AM Pacific each day) - join the final cohort of Certified Diversity Sourcing Professionals (#CDSP). After September, we will be merging our Diversity training into our flagship training program. If you are looking for a standalone diversity sourcing class, this is it!
All classes and Sourcing Training Library recordings include a month-long online support to help you practice.
TOOLS
Julia’s Google Search Results Scraper has been updated to handle search on any Google domain It is a Chrome Extension to Collect Google search results and save them into an Excel table.
Happy Sourcing!