LinkedIn Applications: Your Resume Just Got More Dynamic
LinkedIn has always served a very specific purpose in the business community: helping you find a new job. That utility came in a variety of flavors: posting your resume, looking through job listings, answering questions in hopes of highlighting your intellect, or getting in touch with former co-workers in hopes of landing a new gig. Up to this point, LinkedIn has remained focused but - apart from those invitations to connect - not especially social or dynamic.
With the launch of the LinkedIn Applications platform, they're hoping to change that by helping "over 30 million professionals on LinkedIn to communicate, collaborate, and share information even better than before." But they still remain focused on one thing: helping you find a new job.
The initial applications on the platform allow users to build a more dynamic and cohesive picture of the types of employees they are - or can be:
Today's launch features nine resume-enriching applications:
- Prove you're more well-read than any of the other candidates with Reading Lists from Amazon.
- Share your portfolio pieces with potential employers or store that coveted letter of resignation with the file sharing of Box.net Files.
- Put that girth of presentation material on your machine to work for you with Google Presentation and SlideShare or use the apps to take a "creative" approach to pitching a new employer.
- Huddle Workspaces? Online job interviews. 'Nuff said.
- Show off your acerbic wit and unique insights with Six Apart Blog Link (which supports a variety of blog formats) or WordPress applications that bring your latest blog posts into your profile.
- Well traveled individuals - or those who are willing to go where the company tells them to go - are always in demand and with My Travel by Tripit you'll be able to show the lengths - literally - to which you're willing to go.
- LinkedIn even offers their own application - Company Buzz - that will help you determine the most appropriate companies for your to pursue.
The Facebook Elephant in the Room
Bring up LinkedIn and comparisons to Facebook quickly follow. Now that applications have entered the picture, that comparison becomes even more obvious.
So how do the two stack up?
ReadWriteWeb wrote about LinkedIn and Facebook nearly two years ago, concluding:
"It seems to us that LinkedIn needs to evolve more towards the Facebook model, where people can interact more on the site via profiles. Unlike Facebook, the interactions between individuals on LinkedIn cannot be open to all - but the idea that people interact on the site is important, because this is what keeps them coming back."
Six months ago, we approached the discussion again. At that point, we found LinkedIn gaining traction. "LinkedIn's value to users is clear; their value as a business, however, is less clear."
Today, LinkedIn continues to grow by providing that selfsame value to its user base. LinkedIn's new selective application platform - unlike Facebook's "every application under the sun" strategy - only strengthens that stance.
LinkedIn Remains Focused
Don't mistake where LinkedIn is going with this new feature set.
At first blush, LinkedIn may appear to be chasing the "portal play," especially when you couple it with the recent news of their content partnership with The New York Times or when you take a look at their latest investors.
But rest assured, LinkedIn has made a very successful business out of keeping you in contact with your former co-workers and, when the time comes, helping all of you find new gigs.
No matter what the economic conditions, people will always be looking for new jobs. If LinkedIn continues to add features and applications that facilitate that inevitable searching and hiring, they're sure to succeed. And this new application platform appears to be right in line with that focus.
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Hi Rick - you've completely missed the point of the Huddle Workspaces app. Online interviews? I guess you *could* use it for that but it has been designed to provide a quick and simple way to create collaborative spaces to work with your Linkedin contacts. You can work with as many of your connections as you like and be invited to work in other people's workspaces too. Why don't you take a closer look? :)
@Andy I'll definitely take a closer look. ;) I'm very interested in keeping an eye on this initial suite of apps - and the adoption you're seeing - as LinkedIn continues to build out the offering.
I've installed a few, however they don't seem to be working. As I use LinkedIn more I'm finding it's a bit buggy and I think the 1000 character limit for entry descriptions is a bit restrictive (I actually had to edit down my resume...not good LinkedIn...if you're listen) I would like to have at least 1500 but I guess I can use the box.net app (if it ever works) to upload my full resume.
I think you are way overplaying the job search element of LinkedIn.
Recruiting is certainly important and I have found it to be a great source of quality folks when I have been hiring, but I use it for many other reasons and know others do, too.
Like FB or anything else, it helps you keep track of your network pretty easily.
Especially in the last month or two, they have juiced up their 'groups' functionality and that helps you keep in touch with colleagues at old companies, schools, whatever.
I have also frequently used the Q&A feature to get quick answers to questions in fields I don't know much about. Or to help me find qualified experts or consultants to work on projects.
Some people LinkedIn as a lead gen tool. Some use it to build interest in new websites or businesses. Etc. Etc.
I have been waiting for something like this to come along on LinkedIn. Once again, with the economy, there can never be enough places to find job postings!
Jesse W.
http://www.subprimeblogger.com
Just posting the help ticket response I placed about the character limit on descriptions...I'm not sure what the layout issues would be other than lengthening the page which should be up to the user and if this functionality is not going to be added soon then I think the least LinkedIn can do is add a character counter when you're entering the copy.
...just my .02
--------- (replacing names with xxxx)
Subject
Description Character Limit
10/28/2008 04:48 PM
Dear xxxx,
Thank you for contacting LinkedIn Customer Support. We cannot adjust this at this time, we hope to increase these in the future, but there are layout issues involved.
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us.
Thanks,
xxxx
Linkedin was included into the About.com Top 10 employment site list…linkedin is still the only social network on the list though…..the newest 3 on the list are-
http://www.linkedin.com (professional networking)
http://www.indeed.com (aggregated listings)
http://www.realmatch.com (matches you to the perfect job)
Good luck to those searching for candidates or jobs!
The app platform is not attractive. They are forcing themselves to become more irrelevant. They are best at job search and using your "rolodex" to get things done. THey should stick to that.
@John
It's true that there are many other potential uses for LinkedIn that are oftentimes understated. It would be nice if they upgraded their user interface over there next, it isn't nearly as intuitive as Facebook's for instance.
That said, I'm sure the app platform will get better with time. It'll be a few weeks before we can even begin to get a picture of how they're doing with the implementation.
While I generally find your posts to be right on the money, I cant say the same for this one.
Are you describing the same site I use every day?
"very specific purpose in the business community: helping you find a new job"
Its one function of the site but hardley i'ts purpose. If I remember correctly the Jobs feature wasnt even built into the original design - it came later on.
And lastly, the last thing I want too see from LinkedIn is a move towards the likes of Facebook. They dont need to go there to be resourceful. An open application API would be a disaster, they have to keep it contained which seemingly they are.
LinkedIn is as popular and useful as it is for a reason. In my opinion it's one of the few great stories of the Web 2.0 revolution. A network that has a business model built in that actually makes sense.
I don't think the LinkedIn platform is all about job search. I think its about engaging users with other professional applications.
I do agree that a Facebook style open platform would be a good idea.
We think presentations are a natural for LinkedIn and are happy to be a part of it.
Rashmi
SlideShare cofounder
I think of LinkedIn as a personal branding site. It is great for the passive job seeker. Because you can clearly communicate your candidature (with all employment history and details), when someone is looking for exactly what you have to offer, you can ensure you will be found. Now, features like adding slides enables you to use LinkedIn to differentiate yourself and build your personal brand. It is these types of features that will enhance the personal branding aspect of the site and make it more valuable for both active and passive job seekers.
I heard there are so many bugs, is that true ?
Linkedin was added to the About.com Top 10 Employment site list with 2 other sites but linkedin is still the only social netwoking site on the list. 3 newest job sites on top list are:
www.linkedin.com (networking)
www.indeed.com (aggregated job listings)
www.realmatch.com (matches you to the perfect job)
Good luck to all those searching for jobs.
In line with some of the other comments, at a recent First Tuesday event on Online Recruitment in London, LinkedIN seemed at pains to not be considered a job board business. Kevin Eyres, the European Managing Director, answered a similar question with a clear affirmation of their broader mission about helping people do business.
At the end of the day, the company I work for - Madgex - is growing globally in the provision of white label and bespoke job site solutions because clients can earn a lot of money if they can help match the best, right person with the best, right job for them.
Surely LinkedIN are just following the money on this, as well as all the other ways they are monetizing their site over time as they fulfil their mission of helping people open doors to opportunities using the professional network they already have?