LinkedIn announced this morning a bunch of new features that are designed to increase engagement on the platform. The professional social network is getting a new Creator Mode and Video Cover Stories, and this new update aims to help job seekers make their profiles “more expressive and inclusive.”
The video Cover Story tool will allow members to showcase their skills by adding a video snippet to their profiles. The feature will make it easier for hiring managers to get a quick peek at the personality and communication skills of the job seekers. Once a Cover Story is added, an orange ring will appear around the user’s profile photo, and a video preview will start playing quietly in the photo frame.
The company is also launching a creator mode that should help users build a following by highlighting content on their profile dashboard. “With creator mode, you can add hashtags to indicate what topics you post about the most — for example, #design or #mentorship. It will move your Featured and Activity sections to the top of your Profile to more prominently display your content, and change the “Connect” button to “Follow,” to help you engage your community and build a following,” the company explained.
Next up, the social network is adding the ability for members to add gender pronouns at the top of their profiles. Another new feature enables small businesses and freelancers to create dedicated pages listing their services.
Lastly, LinkedIn is introducing a new Teams-based app called “Career Coach” in May this year. The app will provide personalized career guidance to students. It should help them to identify the goals, skills, and interests they might want to pursue as a profession.
