LinkedIn is a social network for professional networking and career development. Microsoft acquired LinkedIn nearly a decade ago for a whopping $26.2 billion in cash. LinkedIn is free, but a subscription version called LinkedIn Premium offers additional features.
Like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and many others, LinkedIn is a social network. And like other social networks, it is owned by Microsoft, a major technology company.
But unlike most social networks, LinkedIn is a professional networking site designed to help people make business connections, share experiences and resumes, and find jobs.
Microsoft acquired LinkedIn in 2016 for $26.2 billion in cash. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said at the time that the social network would complement business-focused software such as Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft’s suite of productivity programs.
Like many technology companies, LinkedIn has experienced ups and downs in the post-pandemic years. LinkedIn Premium will generate $1.7 billion in revenue from subscribers in 2023, executives said on Microsoft’s earnings call. But the layoffs plaguing the tech industry didn’t affect networking sites either. LinkedIn laid off hundreds of employees in 2023 and 2024.
But despite the company’s financial turmoil, LinkedIn remains a valuable networking site used by millions of people and businesses around the world. Here’s what you need to know about using the platform:
LinkedIn essentials
Despite its professional focus, LinkedIn is very similar to social networking sites such as Facebook. This is based on principles such as connecting with friends (or “connections” in the case of LinkedIn), posting updates, sharing and liking content, and sending messages to other users.
LinkedIn is also an idea taken from Facebook with a professional twist. For example, your profile could be your resume, including your work experience, accomplishments, recommendations, and referrals from colleagues.
The site also has things you won’t find anywhere else, including a feature-packed career board where you can search and apply for jobs.
Many employment services are now compatible with LinkedIn. You may be able to share your LinkedIn profile when applying for a job. This may save you from having to painstakingly fill out long online forms with your work history.
If you’re new to LinkedIn, take a quick tour of the site.
A quick tour of LinkedIn
Home is similar to your Facebook newsfeed. Here you can see posts created by other LinkedIn users, and create your own posts that others can see, like, share, and comment on. Similar to Facebook, you can limit your posts to only connections within your network, or share your thoughts with everyone. My Network is where you can see your network of existing connections and search for LinkedIn users to invite to join your network. You can also see existing invitations you’ve received from others. Jobs is a comprehensive career site. You can search for and apply for job openings, and get information about companies that interest you. You can set up notifications to receive emails when new job openings are available. Messaging leads to an instant messaging platform that you can use to chat with people in your network. If you’re subscribed to a certain tier of LinkedIn Premium, you can also send messages to people outside of your network using something called InMail. Me displays a profile that resembles a resume. Here you can post your work history, accomplishments, education, current location, and more to showcase your work history. If you have a LinkedIn account, you should make sure it’s as polished as your actual resume, as it’s likely to be seen by professional connections and recruiters.
What you can do with LinkedIn
It’s clear that LinkedIn is a tool you can use to enhance your professional networking and job search.
Many people use this site to make more contacts and find career opportunities. The site’s jobs section is a powerful tool for finding and applying for jobs. LinkedIn has settings that let you let recruiters know that you’re actively looking for a job.
Some people use LinkedIn to improve their professional reputation by posting to their news feeds and commenting on other people’s posts.
Like other technology companies in recent years, including Microsoft and its new Copilot tool, LinkedIn has increasingly focused on AI products. LinkedIn has announced its own AI-powered writing assistant that can generate personalized suggestions for your profile.
LinkedIn Premium
LinkedIn Premium is a subscription version of LinkedIn that offers online professional development classes, insights into who’s viewing your profile, the ability to instant message anyone on LinkedIn even if they’re not in your network, and much more. Additional functionality has been added.
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LinkedIn Premium offers four different plans at different price points depending on your needs. Premium Career is for professionals and job seekers looking to advance their careers, while Premium Business, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter Lite are for employers, businesses, or sales professionals.
The most popular plan, LinkedIn Premium Career, costs $39.99 for one month, but you can also purchase an annual package for $239.88. You can also try a 1-month free trial.
