Statistics indicate that over 94% of recruiters vet their potential candidates on LinkedIn before hiring (1) (more than any other social media platform), so LinkedIn is becoming an integral part of the recruitment process.
While the digital face of recruitment is constantly evolving and changing, so is the face of LinkedIn. The latest updates to LinkedIn’s user interface (UI) saw a number of changes and new features being rolled out from October 2016. Senior Director of Experience Design at LinkedIn, Amy Parnell, explained: “The goal with this design was to simplify and create focus.”
The latest LinkedIn changes include:
- A new look and layout, more similar to the mobile version of LinkedIn.
- A page dedicated to notifications with a live notifications stream, making it easier to stay on top of what’s going on.
- The newsfeed (or timeline) on the homepage has become smarter, using algorithms and human curation to ensure the content is more relevant to the user.
- Profile pages have been altered, with larger background images (1536x738px) and smaller, round profile images. Less of the personal summary is shown until a viewer clicks ‘see more’, so the content is key.
- An instant messaging function has been added, allowing you to keep talking while you browse the site.
- The jobs portal has been simplified, showing jobs you have applied to, saved or posted. For Premium LinkedIn members there are added functions, including an indication of jobs that you would be a ‘top applicant’ for, the ability to contact employers directly and be a featured applicant.
- LinkedIn has launched the Lookup App, allowing you to ‘look up’ associates who you are about to meet and gather important background information.
With so many recruiters turning to LinkedIn in their recruitment process, it’s vital that jobseekers position themselves well on the platform. Career Ambitions coaches professionals to make sure their personal branding is on point and up to date, including LinkedIn.
Katherine Wiid, Career Management Coach at Career Ambitions, explains: “Many professionals spend a long time crafting their CVs when job searching and not enough time thinking about their online presence. A LinkedIn profile is a prominent reflection of their personal brand and needs to be constantly up to date.”
The latest LinkedIn changes make the platform more cohesive and streamlined than ever, giving candidates the opportunity to market themselves proactively and manage their digital footprint.
(1) http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/linkedin-job-statistics/
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