LinkedIn has just launched a new pilot program that was created to help freelancers get work and of course for companies to find and employ freelancers themselves. Called ProFinder, the program is only currently available for the San Francisco area.
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As well as only being available in and around the San Francisco area, ProFinder currently targets professionals in most fields – graphic design, editorial, accounting, copywriting, and many others. If you want to find the full list in each industry, just visit the ProFinder website.
I would imagine though that if it meets with approval from the community, many more industries and/or locations will be added.
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For now though, LinkedIn hopes that ProFinder will help employers find freelance professionals in the above industries, allowing them to use the professional networking platform’s ability to vet prospective “employees” by endorsement, skill, recommendation etc.
The program will rely partly on an algorithm, but also may require manual vetting by LinkedIn employees.
LinkedIn has so far ignored the area of freelance recruitment, but as this industry is growing rapidly, it is probably something the company would like to look at more seriously. If of course ProFinder works out, that is.