Recruiting tips

The Most Popular LinkedIn Recruiting Stories of 2019

As we look back at 2019 and buckle up for 2020, there’s one thing we can all agree on: Recruiting is on fire. And there’s proof too: LinkedIn data shows demand for recruiting professionals has jumped by 63% since 2016.

That’s because finding and engaging talent has only gotten harder. With low unemployment rates, talent professionals are essential for winning over candidates. But not just any candidates — you’re being tasked with hiring people with the right soft skills as well as those that can bring diverse perspectives. 

And, with competition for talent heating up, you’re also working hard to create cultures that people want to be a part of, whether that means taking steps to be more inclusive, allowing flexible work options, or helping employees continue to learn and develop their skills. 

With that said, we weren’t surprised to see that the most popular articles on the Talent Blog in 2019 revolved around topics like hiring for diversity, assessing soft-skills, and engaging candidates and employees. It’s always fun to see which articles you found the most useful or inspiring! Here are the top 10 for the year: 

The Top 10 Most Read articles on the LinkedIn Talent Blog

1. 10 LinkedIn Profile Summaries That We Love (And How to Boost Your Own)

Your LinkedIn profile summary is your chance to introduce yourself and give an overview of your professional life. We’ve shared 10 great examples of real people’s profile summaries to help inspire you in writing your own. 

2. The Most In-Demand Hard and Soft Skills of 2019

We used a combination of LinkedIn data and survey results to identifty both the soft and hard skills companies are working hardest to fill right now. These are the skills you should know about and be ready to recruit for this year.

3. 5 ‘Ridiculous’ Ways Patagonia Has Built a Culture That Does Well and Does Good

Dean Carter, VP of HR, finances, and legal at Patagonia, shares five things their HR team does to attract, hire, and retain mission-driven employees.

4. Google’s Former Career Coach Recommends This Trick to Boost Employee Engagement

Google found that the number one behavior their best managers have in common is “being a good coach.” Here’s how Google supports career development and retention through coaching — and one simple trick recommended by a former Google career coach.

5. 3 Common Myths About Soft Skills, Busted

91% of talent professionals agree that soft skills are very important to the future of recruiting and HR, but myths about these elusive skills are holding many companies back from assessing them effectively. To help separate the fact from the fiction about soft skills, we spoke with Kristen Hamilton, cofounder and former CEO of Koru

6. 15 Gender Identity Terms You Need to Know to Build an Inclusive Workplace

There is a lot employers can do to create a more inclusive and welcoming culture for every employee — including individuals who don't conform to traditional expectations about gender identity or expression. The first steps are awareness, understanding, and trying to get the language right.

7. Candidates are Ghosting New Employers – Here’s How You Can Avoid This at Your Company

Companies around the world are experiencing a new phenomenon: Candidates aren't showing up to the first day of work and employees are walking out and never coming back. Companies are being "ghosted." Here are some steps any company can take to keep candidates engaged and interested throughout the hiring process and beyond.

8. The Tactic This Expert Uses to Assess Soft Skills (Hint: It Doesn’t Involve Behavioral Questions)

John Vlastelica, founder of talent acquisition-focused consulting and training firm Recruiting Toolbox, shares how you can ask effective situational questions to suss out candidates’ soft skills.

9. Pixar’s New Short Film Examines Workplace Diversity with Humor, Insight, and a Lively Ball of Yarn

Pixar’s short film tells the story of Purl, a pink ball of yarn who is desperate to succeed in her new job at a company where she is the only ball of yarn. The film underscores the necessity of people being allowed to bring their authentic selves — the whole ball of yarn, if you will — to the workplace.

10. Michelle Obama Shares the Key to Diverse Hiring

At Talent Connect 2019, Michelle Obama spoke about her experience as a campus recruiter for her law firm and shared what she believes has to happen in order for diverse hiring to be a priority at any company. 

Thank you for reading the Talent Blog and here’s to more recruiting innovations and stories in 2020!

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