LinkedIn’s AI: Missing the Mark on Networking Potential

Do you know what’s worse than debating the merits of that neon green #OpenToWork banner on LinkedIn posts? It’s seeing someone rocking a regal purple #Hiring banner in your comments, and then…nothing.

While LinkedIn’s AI experiments with automated messages (no thanks, LinkedIn, I don’t need you to #WriteWithAI my comments), they’re missing a golden opportunity to help us understand who we’re engaging with.

The Problem: Buried Opportunities

• For Hiring Managers: LinkedIn buries valuable candidate data within Talent Solutions, making it difficult to connect with potential hires who engage with your content. Unless you are actively doing a search on a role (or paying top dollar for 3rd party plugins), or a candidate replies directly to your job posting, chances are you’re engaging with folks regularly who might be great fits for your active roles.

• For Job Seekers: LinkedIn hides information about who’s hiring within the “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” section, requiring manual digging to find relevant opportunities. Of the 5k people who are engaging with your posts on a weekly basis, how many of them have roles you might be a fit for and a good chance to engage?

• For Everyone: Banners don’t show up in comments or reactions, leaving valuable networking opportunities untapped.

My Story: A Missed Connection

Just weeks ago, the talented Hetal Mehta engaged with my post. Neither of us realized I was #OpenToWork and they were actively #Hiring for similar roles. It took me sifting through my premium analytics to discover this missed connection.

Not only that, but I had to jump through a bunch of other pages after that to find the roles that Hetal was hiring for. Had that information shown up when we saw our reactions and comments or when we were engaging, the discussion might have been a bit different.

The Solution: Surface Key Information

LinkedIn should surface this crucial information where it matters most:

• In Comment Feeds: Display green and purple banners next to names to instantly signal open roles and job seeker status.

• In Notifications: Highlight “networking insights” alongside banners, indicating potential connections based on shared interests and open roles.

• Replace #WriteWithAI: Instead of automated comments, offer a “networking insights” feature that suggests relevant connections and conversations.

• Silence is Golden: Just like the filters on the “engagement analytics”, I should be able to turn this on or off (because sometimes I’m not that interested in networking).

What it Could Look Like:

Hiring Managers: See a “Potential Candidate” indicator next to comments from those with relevant skills and #OpenToWork status.

1. You post about your latest project progress.

2. @AmazingCandidate, who happens to be OpenToWork for a similar role, comments with their insights.

3. When you review the comments in your notification/feed, you get a little indicator showing a match, along with the “networking insights”.

4. Boom! Instant connection opportunity.

Job Seekers: Receive notifications with “Hiring Manager Alert” when engaging with posts from companies with relevant open roles.

1. You’re reviewing your feed and posting comments looking to grow your network.

2. @HiringManager posts information about something happening at their office.

3. When you go to post a reaction, you get a little indicator that this person is working for a company that is hiring for a role you are looking for.

4. Boom! Instant job networking discussion opportunity.

Let’s Make Some Noise, LinkedIn!

LinkedIn community, let’s rally for this game-changing feature! Share your thoughts and use #LinkedInFeatureRequest to make our voices heard. It’s time LinkedIn’s AI worked smarter, not harder, to foster meaningful connections.