It’s more than just a passing fancy: according to Socialnomics.net, 80% of companies are using LinkedIn as their primary source for finding employees. Smart employers are beginning to look at social media not only as an extension of their marketing efforts, but crowning it an essential recruitment tool. Why? LinkedIn puts to digital ink what job hunters have known for years: networking is the best way to land a position. The key for recruiters, of course, is wiring in directly to these quality candidates. Here’s a few pointers.

Get active. If you’re logging onto LinkedIn only when you have a position to fill, you’ll be staring into an empty basket every time. The best recruiters spend time building their network even when they’re full up. LinkedIn gives you some great ways to do that: inviting colleagues and acquaintances to connect, joining professional groups, and listing yourself by geographic location.

Be Generous. Offer advice to other networked professionals, check in every so often with a genuine, “how are you?”, and offer answers to questions in the “Answers” section of LinkedIn. Becoming a resource is the number one way to attract attention in the world of social media—and in the case of LinkedIn, more attention means better access to qualified candidates.

Stay Current. Update your own profile with links to your personal and company homepages, provide an email address, and keep information up-to-date. Staying relevant keeps you foremost in the minds of potentially perfect candidates—and after all, isn’t that what we’re after?