Website Review: LinkedIn
April 22nd, 2008As a web professional, I like to browse around at what’s new that’s coming out. I like to play around with new applications and see if they have ideas worth trying to expand on.
While LinkedIn is not really a new site, it does have some new ideas. First, I would like to clarify that LinkedIn is not meant to be another Myspace/Facebook. It is a site for professionals to list things they would normally put in their CV/Resume, including past experience, professional groups you are affiliated with, and your specialites.
This application has several new ideas that boost the normal resume/job search process. First among these is the social networking aspect (the function is facebook-ish, but not the content). Users can connect with past employers or colleagues and form connections as you all establish your careers.
Another idea expands on the social networking and connections. LinkedIn has developed a process that will run through the information you provide and suggest other people that you might know who are already existing users.
Also another expansion on the traditional resume is the ability to recommend or endorse another person. For instance, if you come in contact with a former boss that felt that you did great work for him/her while you were in his/her employ, they can add an endorsement to your record for potential future employers to see.
LinkedIn has two categories of job searching. When a user fills out a job search query it first checks to see if your search matches any jobs that your connections are offering. If there is no match, then it references an affiliated job search engine: SimplyHired. LinkedIn will still notify you if you have contacts that work at companies that are offering jobs.
So if you are a professional out there, you should consider giving this application a try for yourself.
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