LinkedIn Will Cut Over 700 Jobs Worldwide and Shut Its China App

LinkedIn, the networking platform used by millions of employees and companies, said on Monday it will pare down its operations in China, capping a multiyear pullback that exemplified the challenges of running a foreign business in China. From a report: The company, owned by Microsoft, said it will lay off 716 employees worldwide, including teams dedicated to engineering and marketing in China, because of slumping demand. It did not say how many of those layoffs will be in China. LinkedIn will also shut its China job posting app, a bare-bones version of its international service, by August. Users of the app, called InCareer, could only search for jobs and not post or share articles the way they can on LinkedIn.

When LinkedIn started a Chinese-language version of its website in 2014, it charted a path that its peers, including Facebook and Google, had shied away from. It partnered with local firms and began censoring the content of millions of Chinese customers in accordance with Beijing's strict laws. Several U.S. journalists and activists said their profiles had been blocked because of "prohibited content." The company said at the time that while it opposed government censorship, its absence in the country could deprive Chinese professionals of the chance to make professional connections.

Re:

[greytree]

All companies in all democratic countries should be legally obliged to get out of every dictatorship in the world or be considered to be illegally assisting in oppression.

FTFY

I've pared down my LinkedIn operations

[OrangeTide]

I haven't used it in job searchers in several years. I don't think I really need it.

Re:

[Ritz_Just_Ritz]

It is worthless for job searches anyway. I hardly ever login any longer as it has shifted from mostly professional discourse to politics, cat videos, people rehashing the same memes about they their leadership is great/shitty/whatever. Blah blah blah

I haven't used it for anything of consequence in a few years.

Re:

[Finallyjoined!!!]

It is worthless for job searches anyway.

It is worthless!

FTFY

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:I've pared down my LinkedIn operations

[ranton]

I haven't used it in job searchers in several years. I don't think I really need it.

My most recent job search was in 2021, and LinkedIn was quite helpful. Two out of the four companies I got to the offer stage with came from recruiters who contacted me on LinkedIn, and a third came from someone in my network who I wouldn't have realistically contacted if not for how easy LinkedIn made it to reach out. All were good competitive offers, and I'm certain my salary is 10%+ higher now because I had multiple offers (allowing me to negotiate harder without risk).

I'm at a point in my career where all my job offers come from either my network or working with a recruiter, but LinkedIn helps even in these situations. You can reach so many recruiters so easily, and reach out to your network with ease. I have no idea if LinkedIn is worth what Microsoft paid for it, but it is still a useful resource when searching for a job.

Re:

[OrangeTide]

My last three interviews began through personal referrals. I get a lot of people pinging me on LinkedIn for jobs, but it's usually not a great match for what I do. Or the location is completely inappropriate and the job is listed as "no remote work"

Will this help the SPAM ?

[OricAtmos48K]

I am really tired of the Chinese Companies and their employees' never ending and repetitive efforts of trying to sell me services and devices I don't need. Yeah, I know they are not unique but they are really persistent.

Re:

[TwistedGreen]

The answer... is no.

Bare-bones version

[93 Escort Wagon]

"LinkedIn will also shut its China job posting app, a bare-bones version of its international service, by August. Users of the app, called InCareer, could only search for jobs and not post or share articles the way they can on LinkedIn."

Basically the Chinese version of the app supported the only features LinkedIn has any business implementing. Their repeated, failed attempts at turning into a Facebook competitor makes their service less useful - not more.

Linkedin ex-employees...

[LordHighExecutioner]

...will post their CVs on Linkedin, and they will experience how useless is that platform for job seekers.

Good

[RitchCraft]

"its absence in the country could deprive Chinese professionals of the chance to make professional connections" - How about, "its absence in the country cuts out a huge money pool that needs to be tapped into." Glad to see these types of censorship endeavors are failing. Shame on you Microsoft.

Do LinkedIn users *want* to be stalked?

[greytree]

Facebook is stalky enough, but you can restrict who you show stuff to to just friends and you can only post trivial stuff, but LinkedIn lets the whole world see where you've been working and where you are working and who with!
That is scary.

And way too many companies ask to see you LinkedIn profile when applying to jobs - not a chance!

Re: Do LinkedIn users *want* to be stalked?

[RegistrationIsDumb83]

Yeah don't disclose your current job until you're ready to start looking for your next job.

Re:

[Ickyban]

I took a new position ~ 18 months ago and made sure the employer was hidden when I realized how dangerous that info could be to a hacker.

Did they get the TikTok treatment?

[ffkom]

I wonder if running LinkedIn in China became as politicized as running TikTok in the US. Data harvesting corporations from foreign countries may not be the most welcome anywhere...

Oh Shucks...

[Orleron]

Guess that means I won't be getting quite as many spam connection requests from Chinese manufacturers that have absolutely nothing to do with my profession. Not today, People's Republic of China.