How to Attract Top Talent for Your Startup Using LinkedIn

How to Attract Top Talent for Your Startup Using LinkedIn (This is for you Seed and Series A startup founders!)

As founders ourselves, we know that building a high-performing team is one of the most critical steps to scaling a company. To help you attract top-tier talent, we’ve laid out a real strategy for boosting your employer brand, creating social proof, and engaging with professionals outside of your immediate network. Here’s how you can do it—organically, without paid ads.

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1️/ Build Your Employer Brand on LinkedIn

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Your company’s online presence plays a huge role in attracting the right talent. Start by positioning your LinkedIn profile (both personal and company) to reflect your company’s mission, values, and what makes your startup exciting. Highlight your company culture, growth opportunities, and the meaningful work candidates will be involved in. Make sure to share stories of your current team’s success and growth within the company—this paints a compelling picture for future hires.

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2️/ Leverage Social Proof and Showcase Company Success

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In today’s job market, social proof is critical for talent attraction. Share success stories, team accomplishments, and case studies on LinkedIn. Ask satisfied employees and partners to leave recommendations and endorsements on your profile, which helps build trust. Client testimonials and media features should also be highlighted on your company page to demonstrate stability and credibility to potential hires. Trust Mary is a great place to start collecting client or customer testimonials.

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3/ Expand Your Network Beyond Personal Connections

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Go beyond your immediate circle and engage with professionals in industry groups, alumni networks, and forums outside your personal network. Attend virtual events, conferences, or startup pitch sessions where potential candidates might be. Comment on industry-relevant posts and contribute to discussions to build awareness of your company among new talent pools. This method helps broaden your reach and introduces you to a more diverse range of potential hires.

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4️/ Engage with Content and Showcase Your Company’s Culture

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Create consistent, value-driven content that not only highlights your expertise but also showcases your company’s culture. Share insights into what it's like to work at your startup, your team’s day-to-day experiences, and your company’s values. By engaging with others’ content and interacting within your community, you build authentic connections. This is an excellent way to engage top talent and have them consider your company when they’re ready to make a move.

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5️/ Scale the Process & Transition to Conversations

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Once you've piqued the interest of potential candidates, it's important to have a structured follow-up process. Move conversations off LinkedIn by inviting candidates to have a call or email exchange to dive deeper into what your company offers. Keep the momentum going by guiding them through the hiring process and providing clarity on next steps.

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Consistency, engagement, and momentum is key for a fluid and successful pipeline of potential candidates.

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Of course, at Full Umbrella Talent, we’re here to help you take your recruitment strategy to the next level. If you’ve mastered the tips above and still need help finding the perfect fit for your leadership team or founding roles, we’d love to partner with you to find diverse, high-impact talent.