More and more are taking to the internet to find the right job. There are a large number of employment websites to choose from, and not all of them operate the same way, which can make finding a job online both time consuming and difficult.
Two of the most popular resources for job seekers are LinkedIn (LNKD) and Indeed.com. These sites offer a wide variety of employment opportunities; however, LinkedIn and Indeed.com are very different. LinkedIn is built as an employment-related social network, while Indeed.com is a meta search engine for job listings.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn does have a job board as part of its suite of services, but it is first and foremost a professional- and business-related social networking site. It was founded in December 2002 and became a public company on May 11, 2011. The company today has a market capitalization of over $28 billion and serves over 260 million members in more than 200 countries. The company has also succeeded in growing through a series of acquisitions that bolster and expand its core business. In addition to a job board, LinkedIn gives users the ability to find friends and colleagues and build a social network geared towards professional networking and information sharing. Users can search for professionals outside of their network and then ask to be introduced by a common connection. The main profile page for a user is designed to appear like a resume or CV with employment history, education, skills and professional interests prominently displayed. Forums and groups are available for networking and discussing specific topics. In 2012, LinkedIn stopped allowing users to also upload and store their resume. LinkedIn generates revenue across three main product lines: Talent Solutions, Marketing Solutions, and Premium Subscriptions. All three product lines are sold through two channels: an offline field sales force, which engages with both large and small business customers, as well as an online, self-serve channel where it generates revenue from both enterprise customers and individual members purchasing subscriptions. Individual users may use the website and many of its services free of charge under a basic plan, but can upgrade to a premium subscription for a monthly fee. There are four premium options to choose from depending on how the user wishes to take advantage of the site: one for job seekers; one for professional networking and business promotion; one for generating sales leads and finding potential new customers; and one for employers or recruiters to post jobs and find talent. (For more, see: What Makes LinkedIn Different From Facebook and Twitter.)
Dallas Rasmussen