LinkedIn

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LinkedIn homepage

LinkedIn

300px LinkedIn homepage
Type of site	Professional network service
Available in	Multilingual
Owner	Microsoft
Created by	Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue, Konstantin Guericke, Eric Ly, Jean-Luc Vaillant
URL	www.linkedin.com
Commercial	Yes
Registration	Required
Launched	May  5, 2003 (2003-05-05)
Current status	Active

LinkedIn is an American business and employment-oriented online service that operates via websites and mobile apps. Launched on May 5, 2003, the platform is mainly used for professional networking, including employers posting jobs and job seekers posting their curriculum vitae (CVs). As of 2021, most of the company's revenue came from selling access to information about its members to recruiters and sales professionals. Since December 2016, it has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft. LinkedIn allows members (both workers and employers) to create profiles and "connections" to each other in an online social network which may represent real-world professional relationships. Members can invite anyone (whether a site member or not) to become a connection.

History

LinkedIn was founded by Reid Hoffman and founding team members from PayPal and Socialnet.com. In 2006, LinkedIn increased to 20 million members. In 2011, LinkedIn filed for an initial public offering and traded its first shares on May 19, 2011, under the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) symbol "LNKD". In 2016, Microsoft announced its acquisition of LinkedIn, valuing the company at $26.2 billion.

Features

LinkedIn's features include the ability to create a profile, connect with other professionals, endorse skills, and receive recommendations. Users can also join groups, write articles, and follow companies. LinkedIn also offers premium subscriptions that provide additional features such as advanced search filters and the ability to send messages to people outside one's network.

Profiles

A LinkedIn profile includes sections for a user's work experience, education, skills, and endorsements. Users can also upload a profile picture and a background photo.

Connections

Connections are the core of LinkedIn's network. Users can connect with colleagues, classmates, and other professionals. LinkedIn also suggests potential connections based on a user's profile and network.

Endorsements and Recommendations

Users can endorse each other's skills and write recommendations. Endorsements are a way for users to validate each other's skills, while recommendations are written testimonials.

Groups

LinkedIn Groups provide a place for professionals in the same industry or with similar interests to share content, find answers, post and view jobs, make business contacts, and establish themselves as industry experts.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that offers video courses taught by industry experts in software, creative, and business skills.

Acquisition by Microsoft

In June 2016, Microsoft announced that it would acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. The acquisition was completed in December 2016. LinkedIn continues to operate as a separate entity under the Microsoft umbrella.

Criticism and Controversies

LinkedIn has faced criticism over issues such as privacy, data security, and the effectiveness of its premium services. In 2012, LinkedIn experienced a major security breach that resulted in the theft of millions of user passwords.

See also

• Professional network service
• Microsoft
• Social media
• Recruitment
• Job hunting

External links

• LinkedIn official website