LinkedIn; The Professional Advantage!

 For most of us, the idea of networking and job searching may cause sheer panic. This is normal as we are all aware that the percentage of applicants is high in any given job advertisement. Sometimes it's who you know, not what you can offer.  I am sure along your professional journey that you have heard about LinkedIn but, do you know what it is, how it's used, and the advantages that come with using the program? Keep reading as we are about to explain the world of LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is a “social networking platform”, that was founded in May 2003. As one of the oldest in the game, it allows individuals and businesses the opportunity to grow and expand professional relationships. Businesses use it to post job opportunities, advertise to a targeted audience, view potential candidates, and for training purposes. Whereas professional individuals use it for hunting for job opportunities, marketing themselves, learning new skills, and finding informative information regarding their chosen careers.

ADVANTAGES

As with any social site, there are always advantages and disadvantages to using such a network. Listed below you will find some benefits to using LinkedIn.

• The website is 100 percent free and a great tool to utilize when getting started in your job-hunting endeavor.
• A premium account offers more advanced features that will help as you progress in your career.
• Thousands of blogs are written by businesses and individuals to gain clarity about questions you may have.
• You can ask mentors questions and they can share knowledge in the answer section.
• Access to LinkedIn Learning, where you can take courses and gain certifications.
• It is easy to access and customize individual profiles.

LinkedIn is a job hunters’ miracle. After all these years it continues to expand its reach and help millions of professionals network and land excellent opportunities in different career fields. If you are interested in viewing some disadvantages, please view Abhy’s article “10 Advantages and Disadvantages of LinkedIn”, and ask yourself; Is LinkedIn the social networking platform that will work best for my needs?