Abstract
LinkedIn, briefly: LinkedIn is an online professional social network based in the United States and available worldwide. The company is primarily a virtual organization (pure player) but also works on the field. It was founded in 2002 and launched six months later. It enables users that are registered to maintain a profile of them, including their résumé, skills, personality, full job history and other complementary information.
A powerful tool: It is one of the most powerful business tools that currently exist thanks to its expertise in data analytics and algorithms, and the world's largest professional network, even if it was not always like that. Indeed, the social network was considered a long time as a repository for digital résumés. Nowadays, it counts 225 million registered members who progressively build their business portfolios, which put forward their professional achievements, from job positions to publications to even PowerPoint or Pdf presentations.
The main purposes of this professional network is to communicate with or between professionals, help them staying connected with each other, see profiles of employer or employee, find a job, communicate about or promote an industry or a company for example. The website features job listings with advanced searching options, answers, news, description of companies, interest groups, network updates...that allows its members to access to insights and knowledge.
A worldwide competitive sector: The company developed itself in a worldwide competitive environment where professional online networks such as Plaxo in The United States, Viadeo in France, Xing in Germany or Jobssip in Spain are also implemented.
In terms of competition, LinkedIn also struggle against Careerbuilder, Indeed.com, Monster HotJobs as online recruiters, Taleo as talent management firm, and also traditional recruiting corporations. New firms in the recruiting industry are competing as well, such as BranchOut, which is a Facebook application for finding working positions and recruiting employees.
