We’ve previously spoken about the consequences of ignoring phone calls.

But what about the consequences of ignoring in mails on LinkedIn

We know that not everyone uses LinkedIn, just as not everyone uses other social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.  It’s not a bad thing, but LinkedIn was created for one purpose – and that is to connect with and grow our professional network whilst increasing our opportunities.

How do people create bigger networks on LinkedIn?

They connect, they talk through direct mail and they interact with one another’s LinkedIn posts on the news feed.  So why, when recruiters reach out to your professional network do people ignore them?

You might love every aspect of your role but that doesn’t mean things don’t change.  Roles changes, responsibilities change, and companies change – so it is always a great investment into your future to have a relationship with a few great recruiters, with the right contacts and network to help you flourish within your sector.

Why should you answer InMail’s?

Recruiters will have ‘stalked’ your profile.  They would have looked through your skills and experience and judged whether you could be a good candidate for the role they are working on (the good ones would have anyway).  By responding and speaking to them (whether you’re open to new positions or not) it gives you the opportunity to qualify them for future roles or you never know – the opportunity they have might be of interest.

It’s important to note that…

• Great recruiters will only InMail you with opportunities they think are a real opportunity for you – not for everyone in your field.

• Great recruiters will qualify your skills and experience before contacting you – to not only reduce wasting their own time but yours too. Recruiters work by successfully finding the right person for the role they are working on, and without doing this they don’t make money.  A good recruiter would never look to waste time.

• Great recruiters will have all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether the opportunity is of interest to you.  If you have questions they can’t instantly answer, they will go away and find the answers for you.

Beware – not all recruiter are great so do some research yourself into the kind of recruiter you’re speaking to.

Next time you receive an email from a recruiter take 2 minutes out of your day to respond. Expand your network and create opportunities for yourself.  

Oakstone.co.uk