Is LinkedIn Even Useful?
“Is LinkedIn Even Useful?” she asked. Adrienne had been searching for a new position for over a year. She had applied to what she described as hundreds of applications on LinkedIn as well as other platforms.
Unfortunately, she had received zero interview requests from her LinkedIn applications. Why not?
LinkedIn has been a topic of debate regarding its effectiveness in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape. While some users find immense value in its networking and career-building capabilities, others question its relevance due to evolving user behavior and platform challenges.
But can you separate the potential of the platform from the behavior of its users? Let’s dig into Adrienne’s question: “Is LinkedIn even useful?” to job seekers?
The Case for LinkedIn’s Usefulness
Professional Networking and Opportunities
LinkedIn remains the leading platform for professional networking, with over 1 billion users and 67 million companies participating on the platform worldwide. The platform is particularly effective for job seekers and recruiters. LinkedIn connects you with colleagues, mentors, and industry leaders, proactively fostering career growth.
Recruiters often find LinkedIn invaluable. Many employers and recruiters use LinkedIn as a primary source for identifying suitable candidates. As an example of the quality of hiring results LinkedIn yields, Kinsta reports that employees sourced through the platform are 40% less likely to leave within six months.
Kinsta’s statistics also reveal that 101 applications are submitted on LinkedIn every second. And for those of you who aren’t getting responses to your LinkedIn applications, these same statistics show that six people are hired every minute.
But you have to be ‘findable’
Making your profile public increases your chances of being discovered by these hiring professionals. But when they land on your LinkedIn profile, ensuring it is ‘buttoned-up’ is important if you want them to take the next step…which, of course, is reaching out to you.
I just saw a LinkedIn job seeker lament that she had lost her house. She went on to say that she had applied to over a thousand positions but received no offer. Her thoughts on why? Her CV wasn’t good enough.
No…her LinkedIn profile wasn’t good enough. She hadn’t used her full name. There was no profile picture or banner, and she hadn’t fleshed out her work history or crafted a career story. Additionally, her posts were largely comprised of complaints about not finding a position (more on content in the next section).
I keep telling folks…the job search has changed. Having a buttoned-up LinkedIn profile matters.
I should note that even if you are gainfully employed, consider whether you would entertain a new position if it met certain qualifications. If you are open to new opportunities, having a public LinkedIn profile allows companies with exciting roles to find you. This passive approach can lead to unexpected and beneficial job offers even when you aren’t actively searching.
Content Creation and Thought Leadership
If you are trying to build a professional brand, LinkedIn allows users to publish articles and posts that can position them as thought leaders in their industries. This is good news for professionals who want to develop their brand without investing in their own website or community platform.
And a bonus? LinkedIn ranks highly with SEO crawlers because the domain has such a strong authority. Therefore, the articles you post on LinkedIn will be quickly indexed by search engines, providing long-term visibility to you.
One key point: Make sure your posts and articles are contributions to the industry. While everyone needs to vent occasionally, if your posts are consistently negative and unprofessional, the impact on your professional brand and candidacy will be extreme.
LinkedIn Supports Skill-Based Hiring Trends
For years, I have seen job seekers ask hiring teams to consider their skills and competency instead of the traditional credentials such as years’ experience in a role.
I agree.
Employers should prioritize candidates’ actual abilities, competencies, and demonstrated skills over traditional credentials like college degrees or years of experience. After all, how many years someone has performed a task doesn’t necessarily translate into how good they are at performing the task.
LinkedIn has integrated a range of features and technologies to actively support and scale skill-based hiring practices. One particular area Job Seekers should explore is LinkedIn Learning. This integration encourages candidates to continually learn and upskill, with the added bonus being that when courses or certifications are completed, the verified credentials are added to the user profiles.
LinkedIn’s evolving platform infrastructure and tools are central to the shift toward skill-based hiring, enabling employers to broaden their talent search and focus on what candidates can do, not just where they have been or what degrees they hold. As a tangible example, in recent years, nearly 29% of job postings on LinkedIn have not required a professional degree, reflecting a shift toward valuing skills over formal education.
Global Reach and Demographics
LinkedIn’s global reach spans over 200 countries, with a diverse user base that includes professionals across industries. Notably, millennials make up a significant portion of its users, many of whom hold decision-making roles in our industry.
The net is this: Do you want your credentials to be in front of more professionals? LinkedIn gives you the ability to make your world smaller by growing your network and increasing your visibility.
Criticisms of LinkedIn
Ghosting and Unprofessional Behavior
Some users report unprofessional experiences, such as being ghosted by recruiters or companies after interviews or sample submissions.
I have also seen a lot of fraudulent activities on LinkedIn. Scammers create profiles claiming to be recruiters for large, reputable companies. They use company logos, official-sounding titles, and sometimes even copy real employees’ names. I have personally seen fake recruiter and hiring manager profiles. The VP of Janssen reached out to me directly, trying to recruit me! Of course, it wasn’t really the VP of Janssen, but my point is this: behavior such as this undermines trust in the LinkedIn platform as a reliable job-seeking tool.
So be careful. And if something seems off, ask for a second set of eyes from someone who actually recruits on the platform.
Limited Engagement
Despite its large user base, engagement levels can be low. On average, users spend only 17 minutes per month on LinkedIn, making it challenging for content creators to maintain visibility.
But this proves you have to consistently be active if you want to connect with others.
Conclusion
When used strategically, LinkedIn remains a powerful tool for professional networking, career advancement, and business development. It has a vast user base. And, the platform’s innovative features make it indispensable for many professionals and organizations. However, challenges such as low engagement rates, unprofessional interactions, and data privacy concerns highlight areas where the platform could improve.
Ultimately, the question “Is LinkedIn Even Useful?” depends on individual goals and how effectively one leverages the platform’s tools. For those willing to invest time in building connections and sharing valuable content, it can be a game-changer in their professional journey. For others who find its benefits diminishing due to poor experiences or limited engagement, alternative platforms or strategies may be worth exploring.
If you are applying to what seems like hundreds of positions but not receiving responses, join our free community and ask for help. We are here for you.