LinkedIn

LinkedIn took the concept of social media and applied it to business networking. The service is styled after other social media platforms like Facebook, but its focus is helping individuals promote their professional skills. Instead of a friends list, LinkedIn offers connections. As a user's connections grow, so does the potential to reach prospective employers. Those looking to hire talented individuals will also find the platform useful. Users of LinkedIn create a profile just like they would on other social media websites. The centerpiece of this profile is a CV or curriculum vitae. Users are able to list their education, work experiences, skills, and references. A CV can even be downloaded and printed for offline use. Users are then able to distribute their profile to other LinkedIn users when they make a connection. Connections are made when other users introduce their own connections to potential employers or employees, and users can also add connections by sending a request similar to how they would do so on Facebook. Posts and articles can be created in the platform and shared with the entire LinkedIn community. This has proven to be a successful method of adding new connections. These posts can also reflect the user's experience and knowledge on a given subject, making them more attractive as potential hires. Employers are able to create job listings with LinkedIn and make those listings available in a search. Users can also search for individuals who might be a good fit for any jobs that are available. LinkedIn made headlines in 2012 when it suffered one of the worst hacks in recent memory. The passwords of more than six million account holders were compromised in the attack, prompting the company to request almost all users to reset their login information. LinkedIn has since implemented new security measures which have improved the safety of the platform. A downside of the platform is that some users approach it as merely a social network. It has also been used by advertisers and marketers to spam products and services. Basic use of the service is free, but professional accounts are also available with paid subscriptions.