Hidden Algorithms on LinkedIn

by Kalil Bushala

LinkedIn usage has recently grown in numbers and it’s not letting up. With college students spending a portion of their days on social media, LinkedIn should be getting the most attention of them all. This channel has become a bridge from the college life to the real world and getting that dream job you’ve always wanted.

But there might be something LinkedIn hasn’t notified you about and that’s algorithms. Algorithms can be both good and bad. It just depends which side of the line your content fits on or in this case, if the jobs LinkedIn has determined were relevant for you.

When searching for jobs on LinkedIn, the app chooses which jobs are more relevant from others by identifying a few different categories on your own LinkedIn profile which may include things like your location and previous job titles. These categories can and should be adjusted for optimum performance when you’re being searched by companies.

LinkedIn creates algorithms in hopes to connect you with jobs that hopefully match your profile and skill set. In a nutshell, these algorithms are created from filters in your preferences. Just like improving your own SEO on Google, LinkedIn has the same concept. Whenever you search for a job on LinkedIn, it categorizes jobs by calculating your location, experience, industry, and company size. These can all be adjusted in your preferences.

These preferences narrow down the search for those who are specifically looking for a certain job title. If you’re in dire need of a job like most college graduates are, you should adjust your personal LinkedIn settings to maximize the chances for the right job coming into your hands through LinkedIn, virtually putting you in front of the competition.

All of this can be helpful when job hunting but most importantly, be prepared to work and be ready to step out of your comfort zone. With experience and the assistance of LinkedIn, you will have your dream job in no time.