LinkedIn launches Applications Network

LinkedIn has always served a very specific purpose in the business community: helping you find a new job. That utility came in a variety of flavors: posting your resume, looking through job listings, answering questions in hopes of highlighting your intellect, or getting in touch with former co-workers in hopes of landing a new gig. Up to this point, LinkedIn has remained focused but – apart from those invitations to connect – not especially social or dynamic.

With the launch of the LinkedIn Applications platform, they’re hoping to change that by helping “over 30 million professionals on LinkedIn to communicate, collaborate, and share information even better than before.” But they still remain focused on one thing: helping you find a new job.

The initial applications on the platform allow users to build a more dynamic and cohesive picture of the types of employees they are – or can be:

LinkedIn Applications Platform

Today’s launch features nine resume-enriching applications:

• Prove you’re more well-read than any of the other candidates with Reading Lists from Amazon.
• Share your portfolio pieces with potential employers or store that coveted letter of resignation with the file sharing of Box.net Files.
• Put that girth of presentation material on your machine to work for you with Google Presentation and SlideShare or use the apps to take a “creative” approach to pitching a new employer.
• Huddle Workspaces? Online job interviews. ‘Nuff said.
• Show off your acerbic wit and unique insights with Six Apart Blog Link (which supports a variety of blog formats) or WordPress applications that bring your latest blog posts into your profile.
• Well traveled individuals – or those who are willing to go where the company tells them to go – are always in demand and with My Travel by Tripit you’ll be able to show the lengths – literally – to which you’re willing to go.
• LinkedIn even offers their own application – Company Buzz – that will help you determine the most appropriate companies for your to pursue.

Visit http://www.linkedin.com for more information.

(source)