Get to Know LinkedIn

LinkedIn is another social media platform used to promote yourself or your company. To first understand LinkedIn, you must understand the terminology. A connection is when you know someone on LinkedIn, you then request to “connect” with that person. You can then connect with your friends’ connections as well. LinkedIn will also show you connections you might have in common with someone and suggest connections for you. You may also request a connection to a person you have interest in working with and network yourself. LinkedIn also offers another resource, the recommendation tab. Once a user is registered on LinkedIn, they can send a request for written recommendations to friends, family, or previous employers. Recommendations are displayed on the user’s page, making it easy and accessible for employers to find recommendations. This is a valuable networking tool and a great way to keep in contact with friends, family members, employees, co-workers, and more.

LinkedIn can be used for personal use or professional use and they often overlap in the way they are used. First I will talk about how LinkedIn can play a vital role in your personal life and next I will address the company side to it.

LinkedIn is a social media website primarily used to network you. LinkedIn users are utilizing this resource to sell themselves to companies. LinkedIn offers access to upload resumes onto one’s LinkedIn page. One can also type a summary about themselves; this makes their LinkedIn page personal and allows the person to talk about themselves in their own words. Also, LinkedIn allows one to search, follow, and connect with companies and colleagues. LinkedIn has made the interview process a lot easier for candidates and companies alike.

For companies, LinkedIn is utilized as an information site, making it easier for candidates to learn about the company and research contact information. When a candidate uploads a resume, the company can easily access the information and evaluate the candidate for a either a current position, or connect with the person to work with him/her in the future. The recommendation tab is a key to companies. By using these two resources, employers can go to a candidate’s page and see their previous experience and qualifications. Companies can search for candidates and post job openings and positions available on LinkedIn. This makes the interviewing process easier for the employer since they can determine if the candidate is qualified for the position.

LinkedIn is speeding up the way people and companies handle networking and looking for jobs. In this economy, it is important to sell yourself and make a good first impression. LinkedIn has made it easier for people to connect with colleagues and potential employers. It has helped the way people do business and continues to impact the industry.