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It's no secret that I'm a big fan of LinkedIn. Billed as "the world's largest professional network," LinkedIn currently has more than 350 million members and is well-represented all around the world. If you're looking for a job, it's the digital place to be. The functionality that LinkedIn now offers to its users is exceptional, especially if you're trying to maximize your employability. For career services professionals/departments, LinkedIn is an essential aspect of a career development curriculum.
During a LinkedIn-specific webinar that I facilitated this week, I shared 4 apps that enhance the overall job-seeking/networking experience of using the site. While some of the apps weren't new to the career services professionals on the call, there were a couple that were revelatory:
- LinkedIn: While this is definitely the "junk drawer" app for LinkedIn, it does offer up a melange of site services. (It's similar to Facebook's primary app...it does almost everything, but it can be a bit clunky.)
- LinkedIn Job Search: If you're looking for a job, you have to have this app. It's ridiculously simple and easy to use. Plus, you can even apply for jobs directly from the app. One caveat for anyone who is thinking of applying for a job via their phone: make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and ready for recruiters/employers. Additionally, if you're a Premium LinkedIn user, you'll get your pricey benefits on the app just like you can on the desktop. However, you don't need a LinkedIn Premium membership to get a lot of value via the jobs app.
- Connected: LinkedIn doesn't really say a lot about the Connected app. It's a great way to keep current with your network. One of the issues with social networks is that once your network gets to a certain size, that scale can diminish your ability to actually engage with your connections. The Connected app is all about maintaining and strengthening your professional network.
- Pulse: Think of this app as being similar to your Facebook News Feed or Twitter stream, but with a bit more of a professional focus. The Pulse app brings relevant news and information straight from the LinkedIn social graph.
According to LinkedIn, there have now been "more than 3 million activations" of the LinkedIn Job Search app. I'm guessing that that number will continue to increase. If you're looking for one of the most-focused job search user interfaces ever created, I strongly recommend checking it out.
If you work in career services/development, are you teaching/sharing LinkedIn's stable of apps with your students?
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