LinkedIn was pretty dull way back in 2003. Here's what it was like:
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It was just a place to stick your resume online
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You'd list your jobs, schools, and maybe a few skills
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Then you'd cross your fingers and hope some job recruiter would spot you
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That was it. Bo-ring!
Getting Friendlier: LinkedIn Learns to Socialize
But then, LinkedIn got hip to the fact that work isn't just about landing a job. They started adding cool stuff:
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You could add work buddies as "connections" (fancy word for friends)
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You could send messages to people
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You could even write nice things about your coworkers
Suddenly, LinkedIn wasn't just for job hunting. It became a place to actually talk to other working folks!
Becoming a Thought Leader
In 2012, LinkedIn started letting people write articles right on the site! This was huge because:
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Now you could share what you know about your job or industry
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People started writing about work trends and giving career advice
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It wasn't just about listing your jobs anymore – you could show off your smarts!
If you're not already sharing your ideas on LinkedIn, try this! It's a great way to show people what you know.
LinkedIn Groups: Like Work Club, But Online
Another neat thing LinkedIn added was Groups. Think of them like online clubhouses for work stuff:
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You can join groups about your job, industry, or skills you're into
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You can chat with other people who do what you do
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It's a great way to learn new things and meet work folks
LinkedIn: The Learning Machine
In 2015, LinkedIn bought a company called Lynda.com which is now LinkedIn Learning. This brought a great change because:
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Now you can take classes right on LinkedIn
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They've got courses on all sorts of work stuff
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You can learn new skills and display them on your profile
If you've got access to LinkedIn Learning, check it out! It's a cool way to keep growing your skills.
Your LinkedIn Profile Is Way More Than Just a Resume
Your LinkedIn profile has gotten way fancier over the years:
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You can add videos now
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You can show off your projects
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Your work buddies can vouch for your skills
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It's like a super-resume that really shows who you are at work
Make sure you're using all these cool features. Your LinkedIn profile is often the first thing people see when they look you up online, so make it shine!
LinkedIn for Businesses: Not Just for Job Hunters Anymore
LinkedIn isn't just for regular folks now. It's great for businesses too:
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Companies can have their own pages
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They can share news and updates
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They can post job openings
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They can even run ads
If you run a business, especially if you work with other businesses, you should definitely be on LinkedIn. It's a great way to show off what your company does and find new customers or partners.
What's Next for LinkedIn?
LinkedIn keeps adding new stuff all the time:
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They're really into video content now
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They're trying to make messaging easier
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They want to make the whole site more fun to use
One thing's for sure – LinkedIn isn't just a boring old resume site anymore. It's a place that can help you with all sorts of work stuff!
Wrapping It Up
So there you have it! LinkedIn's come a long way from its "online resume" days. Whether you're:
LinkedIn's got something for you. If you haven't checked it out in a while, give it another look. You might be surprised at all the cool stuff you find!
And hey, if all this seems like a lot to handle, don't stress! There are folks out there who can help you make the most of LinkedIn. Companies like Weblozy can help you jazz up your profile, figure out what to post, and even find new customers for your business.
The main thing to remember is that LinkedIn has turned into this awesome tool for all kinds of work stuff. So jump in and see what it can do for you!