SAP connects to LinkedIn to support channel recruitment efforts 14 August, 2009 By Liam Lahey

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Partners will benefit from a special offering, the LinkedIn Recruiter Basic Starter Package, designed specifically for the recruiting needs of SAP channel partners with up to 1,000 employees. The package includes LinkedIn Recruiter, an online recruiting solution that searches the LinkedIn network for the best candidates based on individually definable criteria. SAP channel partners can then easily contact and track those candidates via LinkedIn Recruiter. Additionally, the package includes LinkedIn Jobs Network, an online job posting service that partners can leverage to promote job openings to the LinkedIn community. The offering is immediately available to all SAP channel partners worldwide.

"We are excited about the partnership," said Brian Frank, director, Sales Operations and Alliances, LinkedIn, in a statement. "SAP is the first software company we are working with to provide such an offering. Over 1,000 leading companies already depend on LinkedIn's recruiting solutions. In working with SAP, we aim to provide our members with an additional variety of interesting career opportunities in SAP's SME ecosystem."

Warren Shiau, lead analyst, IT research, The Strategic Counsel, said any initiative for reaching or connecting people that utilizes what people are using to reach and connect with each other is grounded in good logic.

"It's a nice idea for SAP and its partners, and LinkedIn benefits too by becoming an 'official' corporate channel of communication," he said. "That's gold for LinkedIn."

Partners that choose to leverage the LinkedIn Recruiter Basic Starter Package will gain access to hard-to-find professionals and will reduce third party costs and time to hire. In addition, the offering provides partners the following:

*Opportunity to leverage the LinkedIn network more effectively to find and engage with prospective candidates in a specific region;

*Access to more candidates than only active job seekers;

*Highly specific customizable search results when looking for qualified SAP talent;

*Search results that provide visibility to the entire LinkedIn database of over 45 million professionals;

*Ability to contact talent directly;

*Advanced tools to extend recruitment reach.

"We are always trying to come up with new, exciting and effective ways to help benefit our partners' businesses," said Pat Hume, senior vice president, Global SME Indirect Channel, SAP. "Working with LinkedIn helps to ease our partners' recruiting needs and provide them with alternatives to the traditional recruiting ways. LinkedIn offers a very robust solution. Through the partnership with LinkedIn, SAP is offering the discounted LinkedIn Recruiter package to channel partners. The agreement with LinkedIn is part of our ongoing initiative to help provide partners with tools and resources to boost their recruiting efforts."