Is LinkedIn Premium worth it? #linkedintips

LinkedIn Premium: Worth It or Necessity?

Key Concepts:

• LinkedIn Premium: Paid subscription service offering enhanced features.
• Throttling: Limiting access to features for free users.
• Targeted Networking: Strategically connecting with specific individuals.
• Personal Branding: Establishing a professional online presence.
• Outbound Networking Request: Sending connection requests with personalized messages.

Main Argument:

LinkedIn Premium is not worth the cost, considering features that were once free are now behind a paywall. However, it's become a necessity for effective job searching due to LinkedIn's restrictions on free accounts.

LinkedIn's Strategy:

• LinkedIn is increasingly restricting features previously available for free (or at a lower cost) and offering them through the Premium subscription.
• The platform promotes Premium as a benefit, suggesting increased profile views, recruiter outreach, and job offers.
• The speaker argues that simply having a Premium banner doesn't guarantee recruiter attention. Recruiters prioritize finding the best fit regardless of Premium status.

Frustrations for Job Seekers:

• Throttling of Analytics: Limitations on viewing profile viewers. While not critical, it's a frustrating restriction.
• Messaging Restrictions: Limits on the number of messages and connection requests, hindering targeted networking. This is considered the most significant drawback of the free version.

The Importance of Networking:

• The speaker emphasizes that the most valuable aspects of LinkedIn are:
  • Making connections.
  • Following up with connections.
  • Building a personal brand.
• Job searching on LinkedIn is considered ancillary to these core networking activities.

Recommendation:

• Subscribe to LinkedIn Premium only for the duration of the job search.
• Cancel the subscription after finding a job and explore alternative networking methods.

Course Mention:

• The speaker offers a course called "Unlocking LinkedIn" available at lifeafterlayoff.com.
• The course provides methodologies for leveraging LinkedIn effectively for job seekers and career-focused individuals.

Notable Quote:

• "Is LinkedIn Premium worth it? No, it's absolutely not worth it. The amount of money that they're charging for stuff that used to be free is really frustrating, but it's kind of a necessity at this point."

Conclusion:

While LinkedIn Premium is overpriced for what it offers, the restrictions on free accounts make it a necessary evil for job seekers. A strategic approach involves subscribing only during the job search and focusing on networking and personal branding.