The classic job seeker’s dilemma
We all know the frustration of looking through the uncomfortably comprehensive skill requirements for a job advertisement, wondering which magical wunderkind could actually be qualified to apply. While some say you only need to hit 60 percent of requirements to apply with confidence, who can be bothered to do that math?
Find jobs you’re actually qualified for
Looks like LinkedIn is here to help. The professional networking site announced some new features rolling out over the next few months. One such benefit, available to paid subscribers, will highlight openings where you’d be a top applicant.
By cross-referencing your skills and summary section with the job requirements, LinkedIn can place you amongst the top 50% of applicants for any advertised position.
“In today’s world of ubiquitous online job postings, it’s no longer about finding jobs, but finding the right job and leveraging your competitive edge to land it, once you do,” Thogori Karago said in a statement.
This makes prioritization easier for job seekers. However, on the flip side, users can also study their less-qualified openings to determine what skills they should build to get to the next level.
More networking opportunities
LinkedIn will also show you more connection information with job ads. After showing you university alumni at companies posting job openings, the site will expand that feature to include people who used to work at the company at which you currently work.
As most of us are aware, who you know makes a big difference in the hiring process.
It’s not clear if this feature will also share links from past places of employment, although that would seem like a very logical next step.
Finally, users can expect to see more information about openings in the future.
These features will give job seekers a list of the folks on the team they would be working with.
Furthermore, applicants will see the hiring trends of the company. You’ll be able to discern if companies are in the midst of a hiring blitz or not, which can help you discern the potential and direction of each company.
Will this help them grow?
It’s interesting to see LinkedIn making a push into paid features with this rollout. According to statements from the Forbes article, Karago describes the vision for the social network as a “person job seeking concierge” that can organize your search for you. Given their financial struggles, this isn’t a surprising move. It certainly has value potential for job seekers; we’ll see if that translates to actual dollars.
