Linkedin’s Latest App: StudentsWhat went wrong
What went wrong
Linkedin just released their latest iteration for both Iphone and Android. The app is geared specifically for students (soon to be graduates looking for jobs and internships).
44% of graduates are underemployed.
thanks
Linkedin’s answer to this alarming statistic is their new product: students. The app leverages Linkedin’s “database of over 400 million professionals, the brand new app helps you discover jobs that are a best fit for graduates with your major, companies that tend to hire from your school and the careers paths of recent alumni with similar degrees.”
I preface this critique by detailing that I use my linkedin a ton. But it is far from perfect. And while I would say that one opinion normally does not matter — but in this case:
I am the target market. So my opinion does matter.
I have been looking for a solution like this for a while. I, personally, have tried to attack this problem in the past — bringing in VCs to my school and connecting students with jobs in the area — but it is not easy.
So I have been looking for a platform to help other students join the conversation.
So here is how it went (not the best):
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You enter the app and it prompts you with “5 ideas” to get your career exploration started.
These custom ideas are populated by the information you entered to linkedin.
The app gives you a chance to confirm this information before you begin your search.
But the credentials are extremely baseline: school and major.
***Does not support a double- major
From there — the app populates news, alumni (who are not really alumni, but rather classmates), and job postings (pretty generic ones).
5 ideas ? To find your future career? Generically?
Is that enough ?
The simple answer is no. This attempt by linkedin fails help students because it is not serious enough. Finding a job is not “extra-credit.” To find a good one, it takes time and effort. Job offer postings do not work well because they are available to the masses. And the linkedin’s display of information — using “ideas” — is not customized and lacks depth.
But — I believe that linkedin is identifying a serious problem.
There is currently a gap between young talent and jobs. This is an opportunity for technology to merge and create new opportunities. Jobs cannot be offered “conveniently” — you need to make students work and hustle for them. But the industry can be more transparent and welcoming to students — so they can learn more about it.
“Talent is universal, while opportunity is not” — Niko Bonatsos. Tech can help bring talent to opportunities.
I believe in a world where technology can help students approach role-models, read industry news, and prompt conversation.
Product Hunt where you at ??? (If not them, who else?)
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continue on twitter @itsjordangonen
By jordangonen on April 19, 2016.
Exported from Medium on February 17, 2018.