What Is LinkedIn and How Does It Work?

In the competitive era of online job applications, it’s more important than ever to have a professional presence online to showcase yourself to prospective employers. With LinkedIn, you can connect, network, and learn new skills to advance your career. In this article, we'll cover what LinkedIn is, how your LinkedIn URL works, how the platform is different from other social media platforms, and why it's essential in today's professional landscape.

What is LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is a social networking platform launched in 2003. It was designed to connect the world's professionals to make them more productive and successful. It serves as a virtual space where you can build your personal brand, showcase your skills and experiences, post your resume, connect with colleagues and like-minded professionals, communicate with job recruiters, and explore job opportunities.

However, the networking platform doesn't just help employees. Organizational LinkedIn users can use LinkedIn Business to find talent by posting jobs, browsing individual profiles, and recruiting job candidates.

How does LinkedIn work?

Much like Facebook, the platform allows you to create a profile, make posts, message other people, and perform other social functions. The difference is that LinkedIn is social media specifically meant for the workspace. Instead of posting personal pictures and memes, you create a profile that resembles a resume, highlighting your education, work history, skills, and accomplishments. Your profile is the jumping off point for networking activities, letting you connect with colleagues, industry peers, recruiters, and potential employers.

Key features of LinkedIn

Connections

You can connect with others on the platform, forming a professional relationships with other users. This is similar to being Facebook “friends.”

Feed

Similar to other social media platforms, LinkedIn has a news feed where users can scroll through updates, articles, and insights relevant to your professional interests. You can also make posts which will show up on other users’ feeds who have added you as a connection.

Messaging

Again, like virtually every other social media sites, the platform offers a messaging feature. The difference is that LinkedIn messaging is typically used for networking and messaging about job opportunities.

Groups

Similar to Facebook Groups, LinkedIn Groups provide forums to connect with professionals that have similar interests or affiliations to network, discuss certain topics, and share knowledge.

Jobs

The Jobs section lets you search and apply for job postings. Like other job boards, users can browse jobs by industry or title.

Learning

LinkedIn Learning, similar to Coursera or other online learning platforms, offers a wide range of online courses taught by industry experts, allowing you to improve your knowledge and skills in many different areas. Note that LinkedIn Learning requires a monthly subscription to access.

Why use LinkedIn?

Even if you already have an established position and enjoy your job, there are many benefits of using LinkedIn when it comes to your career.

Networking. The platform provides an easy way to expand your professional network and make connections with peers in your industry. Users can reach out to mentors, industry influencers, and potential collaborators.
Career development. LinkedIn has many career development resources, including a job board, industry insights, and learning opportunities.
Personal branding. Your profile is a great way to showcase your background, skills, and achievements to boost your personal brand to hiring managers or other potential opportunities.
Knowledge sharing. By sharing and engaging with updates, articles, and discussions, you can contribute to conversations relevant to your industry. This helps you position yourself as a trusted expert in the field and stay on top of the latest trends.

Keeping your LinkedIn up to date helps you establish yourself even in your current position. Furthermore, should you ever decide to change jobs or make a career move, an updated profile will make connecting with others and switching positions even easier.

LinkedIn's focus on professional networking sets it apart from other “general” social media platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram. While Facebook and other platforms focus on entertaining user-generated content and personal connections, LinkedIn prioritizes professional relationships and career-related content and activities. The site is essentially a digital extension of the workplace, providing a place to grow and advance in your career.

Understanding your LinkedIn URL

Your LinkedIn URL is a unique web address that takes users to your profile. The default URL typically includes your name and a series of numbers, unless you customize it to reflect your personal brand or profession.

For example, a URL for someone named John Smith might be something like linkedin.com/in/john-smith-473829167a576.

To find your LinkedIn URL, click on Me in the top menu bar and then select View profile from the dropdown menu. The URL that shows up for this webpage is your LinkedIn URL.

Customizing your URL to something personal makes it easier to share your profile and enhance your online presence.

How to customize your LinkedIn profile URL

To change your URL, follow these steps:

Edit your public profile and URL. On your profile page, click on Edit public profile & URL on the right-hand side.
Customize Your URL. Under the Edit your custom URL section, you can edit your LinkedIn URL to reflect your name, profession, or other relevant keywords. Once you've chosen your desired URL, click on Save.

When you get a new title, career accolade, or professional photo, make sure to update your LinkedIn profile to ensure that it's ready for for others to see.

Tips for getting the most out of LinkedIn

To make the most of your experience with the platform, consider doing the following:

Complete your profile

Look at your profile like your digital resume. To make yourself more attractive to other professionals in your field, make sure to complete your profile by uploading a professional profile picture, including a compelling headline, and adding detailed work experience and any relevant skills to showcase your expertise yourself.

Build your network

A great profile is nice, but it doesn’t really mean much without connections. Having connections shows others that you are active in the industry. Make sure to connect with colleagues, classmates, industry peers, and professionals you admire to widen your professional network. After all, making professional connections is what LinkedIn is used for in the first place.

Engage with the community

Share updates, articles, and insights regularly to stay visible and engage with your network. Comment on others' posts and join relevant discussions to demonstrate your expertise and build relationships.

Take advantage of LinkedIn features

Explore features such as LinkedIn Groups, Jobs, Learning, and Events to leverage the its full potential for networking, career development, and skill and knowledge enhancement.

How to create a LinkedIn account

Creating a LinkedIn account is simple. To join the site, follow these steps:

Visit LinkedIn's website. Go to www.linkedin.com and click on Join now in the top right of the page or New to LinkedIn? Join now below the sign in button.
Provide your information. Follow the prompts to enter your email address and then create a password to set up your account.
Complete your profile. Follow the prompts to fill out your profile with details such as your name, education, work experience, skills, and interests.
Verify your email. The website will send a verification email to the address you provided. Click on the link in the email to verify your account.
Start connecting. Once verified, you can start using the platform to connect with professionals, explore job opportunities, and engage with content on the platform.

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for you to network, move up in your career, and stay informed about industry trends. By understanding how it works, using its unique features, building your profile, and actively posting to your feed, you can access tons of opportunities for professional growth and success.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out in your career, LinkedIn provides plenty of tools to support your career goals in today's competitive landscape.