Why Your LinkedIn Job Posts Aren’t Working: A 5-Point Checklist

I recently spoke with a senior manager who shared his frustration: he posted to his network that he was hiring an Application Engineer, and the only responses were from candidates outside the area looking for H-1B transfers.
Why?
Because most people don’t nurture their LinkedIn networks.
We accept random connection requests, follow a few industry voices, and occasionally “like” a post. But when we finally need to hire, we realize our network isn’t engaged, or even relevant to our hiring needs.
Here’s the hard truth:
Posting a job to LinkedIn is not enough. For your network to respond, you must already be visible, credible, and consistent. People apply for opportunities from people they know, or at least feel like they know.
The good news? You can fix this.
If you put in the time to engage consistently, you’ll reach a point where great candidates come to you when you post.
Here’s where I would start…
5-Point LinkedIn Recruiting Checklist
- Show Up Consistently
- Post at least 2–3 times per week. (Video or written, video is best)
- Share insights, industry news, hiring updates, and behind-the-scenes moments from your team. (The more specific and unique your perspective, the better)
- The goal: keep your name and expertise visible so your network is warm before you need them.
- Curate Your Network
- Connect with relevant professionals, future candidates, industry peers, thought leaders, and local talent.
- Don’t just accept every request; be intentional so your network reflects the talent pools you want to tap.
- Engage, Don’t Just Post
- Comment on others’ posts, congratulate career moves, and answer industry questions.
- This builds trust and makes people more likely to engage when you share opportunities.
- Share More Than Jobs
- People want to work with leaders they like and respect, not just a job title.
- Post about company culture, team wins, and professional lessons learned. This makes your posts more relatable and shareable.
- Be Ready Before You’re Hiring
- Treat LinkedIn like a year-round recruiting channel, not a last-minute job board.
- Build your audience now so when you have an opening, the right people already know and trust you.
Bottom line:
Recruitment on LinkedIn is a long game. The more you invest in visibility, engagement, and authenticity, the less you’ll need to rely on cold outreach or random applicants, because the right candidates will already be in your network.