LinkedIn is a social network and recruitment platform used by millions across the world. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, the website was launched in May of 2003. The company’s revenue comes from member subscriptions, advertising sales, and talent solutions. LinkedIn is soon to be acquired by Microsoft (2016).
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The Good
- Price range
- Reach
- Special features
- Experience
- Customer support
Price Range
LinkedIn offers free public individual profile and company pages as a form of social networking. Company pages can showcase a business to potential employees or customers. Personal profiles allow workers to make connections, give recommendations, and search for relevant employment opportunities. Users can share articles, videos, comments, and ideas with followers and connections.
Additional services must be purchased. The basic LinkedIn premium plans and prices are as follows:
- Job Seeker: 1 free month, then $29.99/month
- Business Plus: 1 free month, then $47.99/month
- Sales Navigator Professional: 1 free month, then $64.99/month
- Recruiter Lite: 1 free month, then starts at $99.95/month
Larger companies with more extensive recruitment or advertising goals can upgrade to sponsored content to get their company's updates to more people, attract new followers, and get their message out on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. These plans are set up based on the company's budget and can be cost per click or cost per impression. Similar to the premium plans' option for a free trial, a free demo is available for sponsored content.
Reach
LinkedIn has over 433 million account members, with 106 million unique visiting members each month. There are 128 million members in the U.S., but the majority live in over 200 countries and territories worldwide.
Special Features
Accounts upgraded to premium have a number of additional avenues available to successfully network. These premium accounts are Job Seeker, Business Plus, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter Lite. Larger businesses with more recruiting needs as well as ad agencies can find additional plans and opportunities through LinkedIn's sales team.
Job Seeker features:
- Direct messaging to recruiters with 3 InMail credits
- Move to top of recruiters' applicant lists
- See who's viewed your profile in last 90 days and how they found you
- See how you compare to other candidates with applicant insights
Business Plus features:
- 15 InMail messages to contact anyone on LinkedIn
- Business Insights: access to key metrics and trends of company
- See who's viewed you in last 90 days and how they found you
- Unlimited profile search
Sales Navigator features:
- 15 InMail messages
- Sales insights on accounts and leads, job changes, company growth
- Advanced search with custom lead lists and advanced search filters
- See what prospects interested in you in last 90 days
- Unlimited profile search
- Lead recommendations and saved leads
Recruiter Lite features:
- 30 InMail messages with templates
- Advanced search for finding candidates
- Track candidates and open roles with Projects
- Recruiting-specific design
- See who's viewed you in the last 90 days
- Unlimited profiles from search results and suggested profiles
- Access all of Job Seeker Premium consumer features
LinkedIn has a number of mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices. The apps are:
- LinkedIn-website functions adapted for mobile app
- Job search-search for and apply in one click
- Lookup-find, learn about, and contact coworkers
- Lynda.com-expert-led courses available for download
- SlideShare-access to over 18 million presentations, infographics, and videos
- LinkedIn Groups-industry conversations (iOS only)
- Pulse-daily professional news source
Premium Apps:
- Recruiter-search and review profiles of potential hires
- Sales Navigator-find leads and accounts in target market, connect, and get updates
- Elevate-find and share interesting articles
Experience
LinkedIn was co-founded in 2003 by Reid Hoffman and a team of colleagues he had worked with from SocialNet and PayPal. The company began as a way for professionals to connect with each other, like an online address book. The following year they introduced groups, and in 2005 job posting and subscriptions became available. With a little over 11 years of experience in the job search industry, LinkedIn isn't the longest-standing company, but it's been around long enough to make major progress over the years, especially with its reach.
Customer Support
LinkedIn has a help forum discussion board where users can ask questions and receive responses from other users as well as LinkedIn staff. Users can sort discussion threads by most active, most votes, and newest, and apply more specific filters as they search for similar inquiries.
The preferred contact with customer service directly was via an online form. After requesting information, customers immediately receive an automated answer acknowledging receipt of the issue. Responses are generally answered within 24 hours.
The Bad
- Resources and learning materials
Resources and Learning Materials
LinkedIn provides surprisingly little educational content to free account holders. Of course, their social network platform is a great avenue to find and share materials, lists, and tips on job-related items from other sources, but there are many other job search websites that have a more broad and deep reservoir of articles on their blogs.
Paid job seekers get access to Lynda.com, a partner site and app with over 4,000 expert-led employment and business courses. Anyone can access a free trial to Lynda services through the website or app before needing to pay.
The Bottom Line
LinkedIn has a great reputation with business professionals and companies across nearly every industry, and it is a clear leader in its own industry of job search and recruitment. Users have access to people, jobs, news, updates, and insights that can help lead to relevant jobs or potential employees. Job seekers do have to pay to access many of the features on LinkedIn, like their InMail messaging system, whereas most companies do not charge job seekers. But where it seems like everyone is on LinkedIn nowadays, it's probably worth the investment.
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User Reviews
Star Rating
96 Reviews
Review Breakdown
Sentiment Criteria
SkylarPickens
Great at finding jobs available near me! Especially with showing the people my resume!
Sarah Russie
Site is good for business networking, however I've not had much luck in finding successful work options through this app, so far. A little more fluff than functionality.
Kayla
I’m not the biggest fan of this app because it also doesn’t truly direct to jobs or people in jobs that cater to me.
Jacob
Linkedin has a been a great source to find jobs. With daily emails and easy connections, it is impossible to not find a job you love.
Michelle W
This is an awesome site to look for jobs, but I find I only get the full benefit when I'm using LinkedIn Premier so I can see how I compare to other applicants, which stinks. If this was free, I would put LinkedIn as my top job searching site.
Roberson
LinkedIn is a fantastic resource that has allowed me to network and connect with dozens of people in similar occupations. Through their service I have received multiple job offers throughout the years as well as a few jobs. Fantastic resource!
Nathan D.
Linkedin is a great place for business to connect with people looking for employment, sometimes you get messages for jobs you are not interested in or qualified for, however.
Juan
Anyone who has a professional career should join linkedin. They have lots of job postings and you can also connect with many professional people in the same field as you.
Connor
Recently used LinkedIn to hire someone at our work and it was quick and easy. I would definitely do it again.
Daphne Brown
I love the job postings on linkedin and can see the connections being made. It is a good service and has some great strengths. I wish I didn't have to pay so much for premium with very little value helping me find jobs.
Jon Posey
I like LinkedIn for jobs, especially since you can see people who currently work there, I think that is very helpful.
Brenda Mertes
A lot of my friends use LinkedIn, but I've never seen the appeal personally. If I want to network with people and get jobs solely based on connections, I would go to job fairs or networking events. It is a confusing site for me to navigate and hasn't benefitted me at all in a job hunt before.
Amanda Rosen
I love the linked in easy apply feature. When job hunting, it's great to not have to fill out tedious applications to just never hear back.
Sara S
I feel like LinkedIn is just a more professional version of Facebook. It really is geared towards socializing rather than finding jobs/professionals.
Megan A McEvoy
LinkedIn has been really helpful to me in making professional connections. I am a college student, so being on LinkedIn allows me to see all of the job opportunities around me that I may be interested in after I graduate. It is also a great platform for me to start networking now so that I have more options available once I graduate.
Angelica Dela Cruz
Linkedin is a perfect website to connect with professionals for job searching. It is like a professional facebook!
Tony
Made a number of valuable contacts on LinkedIn. Very user friendly platform and widely used.
Grant
LinkedIn is the ultimate source online for networking, job searching and resume sharing. It is very useful for trying to find work, and networking yourself and the ease of finding a job that you enjoy.
Tim Berrett
Easy to search for jobs, setup notifications, research companies, research connections in network to those companies. I have never paid for premium services because the base functionality has been all I have needed.
S Suguturaga
This is a great site for networking and I like the fact that you and your connections can endorse each others skill sets allowing employers to get a better idea of your talents.
Jonas De Olveira
I feel that linkIn is a must have these days for professionals. It helps me to network and stay in touch with colleagues past and present. It also helps me stay up to date because I can read articles my colleagues write and post.
Jada Scott
LinkedIn is a great way to network and make valuable business contacts. Thanks to LinkedIn I was able to find a great paying job in the field I wanted!
Christy Suguturaga
I am constantly seeing notifications that my name is coming up in searches and that I am being connected to so many networks. It’s a great feeling professionally and the connections are being made when I’m not looking. Very helpful tool!
Ponch Thompson
I have used LinkedIn for several years. It has morphed over time to be more than just a Job Opening site. Lots of relevant articles. I have also used it in looking for applicants my openings I have.
Jeff B
High quality job search service all around. It is nice being able to use your professional network to look for a job. This is the ultimate "get your foot in the door" service. I would recommend using LinkedIn when looking for a job. They offer a great search engine as well with thousands of jobs posted.
Cristiana
LinkedIn is a powerful tool to connect former coworker and help to find a new job. I love this social media style as we only show off what really matter for our Carrie and business connection.
Brennan
LinkedIn is amazing for anyone trying to find a job especially being able to use your network to do so. The ability that LinkedIn gives a job searcher to network with people they know gives them a huge advantage in getting their foot in the door. I feel like LinkedIn offers something that other job searches can't. I will always use LinkedIn for any future job search.
Ryan Huntsman
I like the ability to advertise myself and connect with other individuals and businesses. LinkedIn is part of my regular marketing routine.
JAKE
I have really enjoyed using LinkedIn. It has been really great to make a lot of business contacts around my area. You do have to be cautious about making connections with people you do not personally know. There is a lot of fraud/false accounts on LinkedIn so be cautious about who you connect with.
David M Rose
I am in the sales industry and LinkedIn has been a nice way to keep in touch with former colleagues and to network with future business opportunities. I like that it's easy to use and isn't superficial like other social media platforms.
Lindsey A Brown
The best social network resource for business. Allows for a very professional way to reach out and connect with future businesses, employees, and employers. I like being able to create a profile for myself so that others can quickly see who I am at a glance. Also, a great place to recruit future employees.
Brody B
The best part about using LinkedIn's Job Search feature is the fact that you have a network to get your foot in the door. This is something that no one else offers and is very valuable. Getting an introduction to the right people is exactly what every job seeker needs and LinkedIn allows for that. Build a network and start to connect to make your job search easier. LinkedIn=Amazing
Lindsey B
Great Job Search tool for any professional looking for a job. I love the tools and the fact the LinkedIn has your network already in place makes it easier to get your foot in the door from people you may already know. The tools within the job search are very easy to use and I would recommend it to anyone!
Erika
I think Linkedin has been a great way to connect businesses and people. There are a lot of positives from it. There is a lot of scams and fraud on it though so you have to be aware and verify the person you are connected to is actually a viable trust worthy connection. Just because they have a lot of connections does not mean they are trust worthy.
Emily
Everybody (especially teachers and professors) make it seem like LinkedIn is a very valuable resource that you have to have. In my experience, and that of my friends, LinkedIn has been useless.
Lauren Jorgensen
Although I have not truly utilized this product When I was graduating college my professor helped me make a profile on LinkedIn, it make job searching easy employers come to you.
janalee sanders
I started using LinkedIn based off recommendations what several of my co workers told me. the potential to reach a huge amount of people and business's is incredible. the company is a trustworthy site who keeps your job search and other personal information private as it should be. So far it has worked out well for my needs.
Valarie Heaps
LinkedIn makes business social networking just a little bit easier to get in contact with others that are in my same field of service.
Jason Brown
This is the best tool for both sales reps to mine and prospect and for recruiters. I've used it for both. Their new instructional videos are educational but I wish they would add more powerpoint to the presentations.
nathan brewer
I like how I can connect to others in a professional environment more than with other social media outlets. I can set up my account so that I get all kinds of help either finding jobs or inspiration at work.
Virginia Rosenthal
I used LinkedIn all the time to build my professional network. It's such a great way to keep in touch with colleagues from past jobs. I also use it daily at work to keep in touch with key business partners.
Quinn Johnson
So easy to find relevant jobs and find connections that you can network through.
Annie Orr
LinkedIn has been an amazing source for finding jobs and opportunities. It is so easy to create a profile and get started. I have found multiple job opportunities and internship programs through LinkedIn.
Dasha Directo
LinkedIn is great for job searching because you can read the bio of the company offering the job, so everything you need is in one place. It's also easy for recruiters to have an overview of potential employees.
Hailey Nilson
Linked In is great! It's simple and easy to understand. I've been able to network and make so many connections through this program.
Katie Marz
I think linkedIn is a great site for potential employees to connect with employers. But I don't think it is consistently used enough by employers to actually get ahold of someone on there. It totally depends on the employer.
Autumn Kallunki
Most of the time websites like this aren't very helpful with a job search. The only thing I've gotten out of it is a lot of ads and solicitation. I do not recommend using.
Matthew Carbaugh
I enjoy LinkedIn more for its social networking aspect rather than using it as a job locater. People do occasionaly reach out for small contracting gigs but did not have much luck when looking for full-time positions
Nishita
Linkedin is great! I have made a lot of great professional connections. Also, setting up a profile with them is really easy, also they always have great jobs posted.
Shauna Craig
I am a nurse and LinkedIn was very helpful to me in my search for other opportunities. They sent me specific jobs in the home health, health care management, and hospice areas with links to apply for these positions. I was able to look at the owner's credentials on LinkedIn.