Linkedin the favoured buddy of Talent Acquisitionists is about to change the way Talent is Sourced with Microsoft taking it over. Everyone in the field is wondering whether it’s going to be a boon or a bane. Thus it’s the talk of the neighbourhood in the Talent Acquisition Industry.

We’ve heard rumours but let’s all take time to think about what it means for the Talent Acquisition Industry as a whole and for us as Consultants and Corporates? We’ll to give you a push @SourcingAdda we’ve gone one step ahead and discussed about it at our popular Wednesday discussions. Hence the topic, “What are your views about Linkedin’s take over by Microsoft?” and here’s what we discovered…

The discussion above has highlighted several aspects on different levels. It has focussed on the pros and cons of this arrangement from a business level where the positive aspects can also become negative aspects if not well managed. It covers the difference between the two and their impact on the Talent Acquisition Industry. We’ve addressed the Pros & Cons from a Recruiters as well as Linkedin Employees perspectives and I’m sure you can think of other aspects that we’ve overlooked or not covered. So let’s highlight the key take a ways from the discussion so that you can add to this list.

Pros & Cons for a business

• A Push cortana integration with your existing CRM/ATS through the Microsoft platforms
• A Monopoly with the largest professional network i.e. Linkedin and largest cloud owned by Microsoft
• Emerge as a competition to Salesforce, Apple and Google
• Linkedin the founders created a set of values surrounding Business and Networking in general as indicated in their book 'The Start Up of You'.
• Interesting to see what Apple and Google does next to show its power of net worth and feel its market presence
• Business wise Microsoft made a good deal
• Linkedin has already changed its policies
• Linkedin should retain its ideal value and be original

Difference between Microsoft & Linkedin

Microsoft

• Microsoft is more technology based
• Microsoft has strict and rigid processes in terms of employment
• Microsoft has good information pertaining to entities like Contacts, Messages, Calendar entries, MS Office and documents

Linkedin

• Linkedin is more people based
• Whether Linkedin employees will be able to cope up with Microsoft
• LinkedIn has information regarding jobs, co-workers, learning, prospects and recruiting/hiring
• Closed Source from Open Source

Pros for Recruiters

• Integration between Outlook – Skype - Slide Share - LinkedIn
• Expect good newsfeed being shared as end users
• People working on projects will benefit

Cons for Recruiters

• The essence of LinkedIn's creation and existence is not lost
• If the end goal is achieved due to the money value looking enticing
• If the Microsoft culture is applied then people will quit Linkedin and attrition rate will increase
• A lot of limitations and restrictions and Linkedin has become like an iOS from Android
• Impacts users who were using LinkedIn for basic search
• Using third party tools like Rapportive or 360° global chrome extensions
• Unless you have a paid account on Linkedin it’s of no use

Pros for Linkedin Employees

• Collaboration can rise to a new level of success

Cons for Linkedin Employees

• Linkedin employees will be able to cope up with Microsoft
• Microsoft culture if applied then people will quit

If you’d like to add to your learning then it is imperative that you join in these conversations. Be sure to follow us @SourcingAdda to get real time updates to our upcoming activities. Now that you’ve read this far would you care to mention a few that might have clicked while reading? If yes then leave your views in the comments section as we’ll like to hear from you too.