Is a Linkedin Job Seeker Premium Account Worth it?

Because Linkedin knows I’ve been applying for jobs like a crazy person, they know I’m a job seeker and have targeted me accordingly. They offered me a free month of their Job Seeker Premium Account, in hopes that I will realize its helpfulness and continue to purchase it.

A Job Seeker Premium Account allows you to:

•  Stand Out from the Crowd. I now have a little briefcase next to my name, indicating, that I am, in fact, looking for a job.
• Send personalized messages directly to recruiters and hiring managers, even those outside your network.
• Move to the top of the applications the Recruiter’s see when you apply to a job.
• Organize your job search, allowing you to save notes or organize searches.
• Access to OpenLink, a service that allow anyone on Linkedin to contact you for free.
• Know who’s looking at your profile.

Is it worth it? Ultimately, no.

• I kind of like the little badge that says I’m a job seeker, because I do think when you’re looking through names of people, you wouldn’t really know who’s looking for a job, especially because I still have a current title as a PR intern.
• The messaging feature would be nice to use, but I still find that if you can find a connection and an email address, you’re more likely to get a response. I should consider using this feature more to reach out to HR individuals directly for companies I’m looking to work at if I can’t get his/her email.
• I don’t think being put at the top of the list when applying to a job helps much long term. Many of the jobs I apply to POST on Linkedin, but request that I email HR directly, or apply through some other way online. I also don’t know if paying for a job-seeker account makes me seem silly, giving the vibe that I have to PAY so that others will notice my resume or know I’m looking for a job.
• Although the note-taking and organizing feature is convenient, it really is relevant to everyone, not just job seekers, to keep in touch with their contacts. Unfortunately though, I apply to MANY jobs NOT on Linkedin, so it’s not really an all-encompassing way to keep on track. If you’re looking for that, take a visit to my friend Jason Alba, at JibberJobber.com.
• In regards to letting anyone contact me for free, I thought people could already do that when making a connection. Sure, you have to establish a connection with someone to be able to speak back and forth, but I don’t think that’s such a bad thing. It helps each person to keep the conversation going and have an investment in one another.
• Knowing who’s looking at your profile is cool (and kind of creepy) but not altogether helpful. If they came, saw everything I’m able to do, and moved on, then there’s not much else I’m really able to do. Most people who look at me have already contacted me through email, and that’s the best way to continue the conversation.
• Finally, priced at around $30 a month, it’s kind of a steep price for a person without an income, with not much added benefit.