LinkedIn set to establish SA presence with Graylink partnership

Professional social networking giant LinkedIn is getting ready to launch a South African presence through partnering up with recruitment software specialist Graylink.

Graylink provides web and mobile recruiting software solutions to some of that country’s top companies including: ABSA, Capitec, Discovery, Medi-Clinic, Shoprite, Sasol, Telkom and Woolworths.

The partnership sees the company become the first official LinkedIn Talent Solutions partner in the South African market as part of the social network’s global expansion plan.

Andy Lea, LinkedIn Partner Manager EMEA reckons that emerging markets are an important growth areas for LinkedIn as it expands its footprint internationally. “Sixty-four percent of LinkedIn’s 200 million members are located outside of the United States with professionals signing up to join LinkedIn at a rate of approximately two new members per second,” he says.

Graylink client service director Matthew Grey meanwhile claims the partnership will help LinkedIn provide more value to companies in the region better target the country’s two-million strong professional member base.

“Utilising LinkedIn will enable corporates to broaden their reach in building their talent pipelines and reduce recruitment turnaround times so that they are effectively able to find new staff and employ them to ensure business continuity by hiring quickly and cost effectively,” Gray says.

According to LinkedIn, there are more than 1.3-million unique publishers actively using the LinkedIn Share button on their sites to send content into the LinkedIn platform and LinkedIn members are sharing insights and knowledge in more than 1.5-million LinkedIn Groups.

“With LinkedIn now the online destination for senior, skilled hires in South Africa, it’s vital that South African corporates are present on LinkedIn and are actively making their presence known as part of their recruitment drive,” Lea adds.

Gray says his company’s existing customers will also benefit from the partnership.

“Existing Graylink customers will benefit through the integration of their recruitment software with LinkedIn, enabling select job postings to be posted on LinkedIn. Candidates will also be able to apply for jobs using their LinkedIn profile, which improves the candidate experience, and provides a deeper level of candidate information for the recruiter,” he says.

Founded in Cape Town, South Africa in 2002, Graylink also has offices in the UK.