Is Executive Search Becoming Too Dependent on LinkedIn?
Or have we forgotten what search really means?
LinkedIn has transformed recruitment. It gives recruiters unprecedented access to talent, improves visibility and makes connecting with candidates easier than ever.
But it also raises an important question:
When everyone has access to the same profiles, using the same search filters and keywords, how much of executive search has become executive finding?
At Remtec, we regularly hear from clients who have seen the same candidates presented by multiple recruiters. The same companies. The same backgrounds. Sometimes even the same individuals. That's hardly surprising. When search begins and ends with LinkedIn, recruiters are often fishing in the same pond. The real value of executive search lies in uncovering talent that isn't immediately visible.
Visibility Is Not Capability
The people who are easiest to find online are not always the people best suited to a role. Some of the most successful leaders we've placed have had very little online presence. They weren't investing time in building a personal brand. They were focused on growing businesses, leading teams and delivering results. The danger is that organisations start to confuse visibility with capability and those are not the same thing.
The Best Candidate Often Isn't Looking
One of the biggest misconceptions in recruitment is that the ideal candidate is actively searching for their next role. In reality, many outstanding leaders are successful, engaged and valued within their current organisations. They aren't updating their LinkedIn profiles or applying for jobs. They are found through market mapping, industry intelligence, referrals and meaningful conversations.
As Susan Covill, former Senior People Business Partner at ResMed, commented: "Remtec consistently demonstrates expertise in sourcing hard-to-fill roles and provides intelligent market analysis while acting as a true partner."
That's the difference between sourcing candidates and conducting a genuine search.
