LinkedIn improved job searching and we all are grateful.
Searching for jobs in the past had lots of issues. It was slow to update, kept showing jobs that had already been applied for, and awkward. The new version is an improvement in almost every aspect.
First, the responsiveness of using it is almost immediate. It doesn’t take 15/20 second for things to update. The jobs that you are not interested in do not come up as often as the old system. Most importantly the interface has been redesigned so it is more informative and intuitive.
With the old system it was unclear about the details of the position. The new listening has more of the key information so that you can make a better decision. This is a great service for people who have slower computers and don’t always have the time to wait and click on every entry. One of the downsides of designers is that they take all the available space whenever they can. Rarely are web pages useful on small devices.
Yet the statistics and research show that more people than ever are accessing the web through mobile devices like smartphones. For many middle and lower-income people, using a smartphone is the main and only way they access the internet. So in a real sense webpages that aren’t optimized for smartphones are excluding the poor and most vulnerable people. When you are looking for a job, this magnifies the problem that the poor have. Most poor don’t have access to networks to help them gain resources, so hopefully LinkedIn is helping to narrow this gap.
One of the best parts of using LinkedIn to apply for jobs is that it keeps track of what jobs you apply for. It is difficult for many people to remember where they apply, and keeping track of where you apply is another hurdle that can make it difficult for people. I have been told by recruiters that when people apply twice for the same position possibly through different recruiters or agencies, then their resume gets thrown out. By helping people remember when they apply, they increase the chance that the person will get an in person interview.
For me, LinkedIn has given me opportunities I would not have otherwise had. It has been the single most effective website for job searching. My second choice would be indeed.com. Anything LinkedIn can do to help people is appreciated.
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