While the internet has made it easier for job hunters to search for positions and bone up on their knowledge of a company before hitting the interview, it hasn't necessarily helped distinguish the casual applicant from the potential employee who lives and breathes a corporation's culture and ideals.
A new service from LinkedIn is hoping to change this. The professional networking site has launched a Follow Company feature that gives interested company fans an inside track to learn about its new developments, potential business opportunities, or even job opportunities.
When searching for a company or contact person who works/worked for a given company, site users can choose to follow that company directly, through the profile. Once becoming a follower, a site user can receive targeted updates and notifications suited to their professional interests. Much like the Facebook "like" feature, this lets followers choose how and how often they receive these updates.
"This feature can deliver insights you may be surprised at, such as the pace of hiring at your nearest competitor or the start of a whole new industry as you see web technology companies hiring geography teachers," said LinkedIn Product Development Manager Ryan Roslansky. "Or better yet, you may find the job of a lifetime to do cause marketing for Major League Baseball."
LinkedIn's Company Profiles homepage is also providing company profile recommendations, to help site users find companies that are participating in this feature.
