> Do you really use the resume and referrals to shortlist a candidate? I don't. LinkedIn is one way to build an initial list, especially if you vet folks first

> Do you really use the resume and referrals to shortlist a candidate? I don't. LinkedIn is one way to build an initial list, especially if you vet folks first through your mutual contacts. Instead of trying to ask all the folks who you trust "I'm looking for {specific}, can you help?", LinkedIn lets you mechanically look for folks who might satisfy {specific} and are connected to folks who you "trust". The LinkedIn list is probably a bit big, but it's a mechanical filter, so you don't miss someone because you didn't contact the right people or they didn't remember someone when you did. That's a much better starting list before you make a single contact. And, your contacts are far more focussed. Instead of "do you know?", it's "what can you tell me about {person}?"