July 3, 2019 Job-Seeking Tools

How LinkedIn is transforming recruitment under Microsoft’s guidance.

July 3, 2019

LinkedIn is often billed as a social media website, and under the strictest sense it is because it connects people. However, because of the unique way LinkedIn works, it has traditionally been more valuable to businesses than it has to users. Recently, the company has started to address the balance to make LinkedIn far more powerful for individuals, especially in recruitment.

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In 2017, Microsoft paid over $27 billion to purchase LinkedIn. It was one of the biggest tech deals in history, but what exactly was Microsoft buying? The answer is simple… data. LinkedIn handed Microsoft a ready-made vast dataset of professionals. Interestingly, while the network was always focused on connecting businesses, Microsoft has started to make LinkedIn a valuable job seeking tool.

In the past, LinkedIn had a stronger impact on organizations than it did on individual users. For employers, the network is a treasure trove that gives them accesses to hundreds of millions of professionals around the world. While LinkedIn excelled at putting companies and workers together in one place, only recently has it really become adept at connecting them and creating last employment opportunities.

Workforces are more mobile than they have ever been, allowing organizations to source workers from a wide range of avenues. Potential employees are also operating in an increasingly competitive marketplace, so standing out from the crowd is important. That’s why many workers turn to professional resume examples to help them attract the attention of employers. With a professional resume, users are creating more dynamic LinkedIn profiles that attract recruiters.

So, LinkedIn is the place to be for companies seeking the best professionals, while third-party tools such as professional resume services can help users enhance their own appeal. Under Microsoft’s guidance, LinkedIn now has more robust tools for helping users connect with potential employers and recruiters.

Back in February, LinkedIn announced it was merging three of its core job-seeking tools into a single service. Specifically, the company rolled Jobs, Pipeline Builder, and Recruiter into a new suite called Intelligent Hiring Experience. Furthermore, the network is now doing more to connect freelancers with clients through a new tool called “Services”.

Users can leverage the Services tool to find project leaders, businesses, and individuals who are looking for freelance services around specific skillsets. LinkedIn works automatically to connect members with clients based on the skills the user has included in their Services profile.

Under Microsoft’s stewardship, LinkedIn has also started to do more to help individuals navigate various aspects of finding work. Interviews are a notoriously difficult part of the recruitment process for prospective employees. LinkedIn aims to make the process simpler with a suite of tools including preparedness features such as video tutorials, tips, and even direct contact with recruitment experts, who will guide users through interview best practices.

LinkedIn crossed the 500 million members mark in 2017 and is now the leading professional networking service in the world. Indeed, 40% of those users log on to the service every day. However, LinkedIn is also now a bona fide marketplace where individuals are competing to attract employers and new opportunities.

As recruitment trends continue to morph in a digital age, people are increasingly seeking new ways of engaging with companies. LinkedIn continues to be that all-important connector, putting organizations and potential employees in contact with each other. What’s more, the platform has delivered more robust features to finally put more emphasis on job seekers, making the platform arguably the best place to find work.

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