Apply for a job directly from LinkedIn

LinkedIn, the popular social networking site, rolled out a new feature earlier this week that lets job seekers apply for a job directly from within the site. Over 100 million people use LinkedIn to network with employers and employees but for the first time users can find out what jobs fit their particular skills and without having to visit another website. Employers have been using LinkedIn for years to post job vacancies but in the past any interested employees were redirected to external websites or just given the relevant contact information in order to apply for a job. Now all job seekers have to do is the click the “Apply Now” button on a job that supports the new “Apply with LinkedIn” feature. Not only can people apply for jobs directly from LinkedIn but the site will also save a record of the jobs that a person has applied for in the past.

In addition to the new ability to apply for a job on LinkedIn, the company also unveiled a new feature that lets LinkedIn users see what connections that they have made that might help them get a job. LinkedIn has even gone so far as to let people message the people on their contact list to request a referral if the contact works in an influential position at the company, which can help give job seekers a competitive edge over regular applicants. LinkedIn will even suggest people that potential job seekers should add to the network in order to increase their chances of landing the jobs that they have or are planning to apply for.

The new Apply with LinkedIn feature will no doubt be vital for companies which operate multiple employment websites such a Marlabs, a global company that has offices in the United States, Canada, and India. To aid companies like Marlabs, General Electric, or Toshiba LinkedIn also announced that they will also allow businesses to incorporate the Apply with LinkedIn button on their website. Clicking on the Apply with LinkedIn button on an external website brings up a small JavaScript modal window that lets users log in to their LinkedIn profile and apply a job without having to visit LinkedIn either.  Furthermore, LinkedIn has even included a plug-in generator that will let employers customize the LinkedIn button for their site including the its color and whether of not applicants are required to have certain information on their profile such as a contact phone number. LinkedIn’s new Apply with LinkedIn and Apply Now buttons will be a welcome help to anyone who is out of work but still dreams of increasing their wealth.

Source: Mashable, LinkedIn