Corporate community app of choice
The global corporate community is united by one word: LinkedIn. Originating as a tool for jobseekers and to source employees LinkedIn has since snowballed into a vast networking platform and business community.
The app version means that you have millions of potential jobs, new talent, and lucrative connections in your pocket at all times. Search for your university alumni or reach out to old colleagues, follow trending hashtags in your industry or send out your resume with just one click.
The latest version of the LinkedIn app comes with your own unique barcode to share with contacts. You can also access the LinkedIn learning feature and add new skills to your profile. Do you need it though?
LinkedIn offers so much more than jobs
LinkedIn is the reference tool for the professionals
LinkedIn is the dating app of the corporate community. A social networking tool for the professional world the app even has a swipe function! Upload your profile making yourself as attractive as you can to potential employees or maximizing your company’s image to investors and connections. Then you can network, job hunt, or simply inform yourself on the latest industry trends and updates.
LinkedIn has three main functions. Use it to find jobs, source new talent, or build up your company. If you are looking for a job, upload the latest version of your resume. Add all your education, qualifications, and even multimedia achievements like videos to your profile. Set job alerts to get notified of vacancies in desired companies or when your dream job comes up. When searching for jobs, use the LinkedIn app settings to filter the results by company name, date posted, experience level or LinkedIn features. Of the latter, the most impressive is “Easy Apply”. Say goodbye to the days of lengthy job applications and countless cover letters and simply apply with one single click.
Recruiters can search for employees by posting jobs or searching for people. Again, tweak the settings and find only connections removed by one to three degrees. Search within a certain industry, city or only the alumni of select schools.
Corporates can create their own company page and reach out to previous colleagues, old classmates or make new connections by staying afresh of the latest news in their industry. The group feature, while slightly confusing to navigate, nevertheless allows you to make instant contact with high-ranking CEOs from a range of fields.
The advantage of using the app is that you can keep ahead of the latest industry developments and job opportunities even when on the go. Use the QR code scanner to share your code. While the constant email reminders can be annoying, push notifications will keep you updated on the latest responses in your inbox. You can always tweak your settings.
Where can you run this program?
LinkedIn is a social networking tool with a desktop version for Windows and Mac operating systems. The LinkedIn app can be installed on Android or iOS smartphones. For Apple operating systems LinkedIn is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
For the latest version of the app 4.1.379 you will need to free up 181.6 MB of space and be running version iOS 11.0 or later. Android users will need to be running Android Lollipop (5.0 or higher).
Is there a better alternative?
The short answer is: No. When it comes to professional networking and access to job opportunities around the globe, LinkedIn has cornered the market. The app is far from perfect; the customer support can be lagging and there is no 24 hour helpline.
Some of the features are locked behind a paywall. If you want to see who has viewed your profile for example you will have to pay for the premium service. Job vacancies are not automatically taken down which can be misleading. Of course, there are other apps specifically for job seekers and employers notably Angel, Jobcase and Xing. To emulate the combination of professional networking and digital nepotism enabled by LinkedIn however you are better using traditional forums like Reddit and Facebook.
Our take
While the LinkedIn app may not have the most streamlined UI or flawless features. It is nonetheless your biggest and best shot at expanding your business or finding a niche job opportunity.
Once you have spent some time navigating the app and building up your company page or personal profile you can begin to access other features of the app. LinkedIn learning tests your skills through multiple choice questions and gives you endorsements or “badges” if you pass.
The more you use it the more it will offer you through other user’s recommendations of your professional or even soft skills and the more relevant your newsfeed will be.
Should you download it?
LinkedIn is the biggest name in online networking and job seeking and for good reason. If you are looking to expand professionally you would do yourself a disservice not to familiarize yourself with this app. Do download it and see for yourself.
