Resumes considered harmful: the technology behind Apply with LinkedIn

LinkedIn Engineering Team
5 min readintermediate
--
View Original

Overview

The article discusses the 'Apply With LinkedIn' plugin, highlighting its benefits for both candidates and companies, while emphasizing its fast, compliant, and open technology framework. It details the plugin's architecture, performance optimizations, and the use of open technologies like easyXDM for cross-domain communication.

What You'll Learn

1

How to implement the Apply With LinkedIn plugin on your website

2

Why using asynchronous loading improves performance for embedded plugins

3

How to ensure HTML 5 compliance when integrating third-party scripts

Prerequisites & Requirements

  • Basic understanding of web development and JavaScript
  • Familiarity with LinkedIn developer tools(optional)

Key Questions Answered

How does the Apply With LinkedIn plugin enhance the job application process?
The Apply With LinkedIn plugin allows candidates to bypass lengthy application forms by using their LinkedIn profiles, which streamlines the application process. It also enables candidates to leverage their network for referrals and helps companies learn more about candidates through their LinkedIn profiles.
What technologies are used in the Apply With LinkedIn plugin?
The plugin is built on open technologies, primarily using easyXDM for cross-domain communication, which allows for secure and efficient message passing between different domains. This approach enhances the plugin's functionality while contributing to the broader developer community.
What are the performance considerations for the Apply With LinkedIn plugin?
The plugin is designed for speed, with a stub JavaScript file of only 0.9k loaded from a CDN. It uses asynchronous loading techniques to minimize blocking of the parent page, ensuring a smooth user experience even when embedded on third-party sites.

Key Statistics & Figures

Size of the stub JavaScript file
0.9k
This small size is crucial for fast loading times when the plugin is embedded on other websites.

Technologies & Tools

Library
Easyxdm
Used for cross-domain communication in the Apply With LinkedIn plugin.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Integrate the Apply With LinkedIn plugin to simplify your job application process and attract more candidates.
By allowing candidates to use their LinkedIn profiles, you can reduce friction in the application process, making it easier for passive candidates to apply.
2
Utilize asynchronous loading for any third-party scripts to enhance your website's performance.
This practice minimizes the impact on page load times, improving user experience and potentially increasing engagement on your site.
3
Ensure your implementation adheres to HTML 5 standards to avoid compatibility issues.
Using valid HTML 5 ensures that your site remains accessible and functions correctly across different browsers, particularly with modern web applications.

Common Pitfalls

1
Failing to load third-party scripts asynchronously can lead to slow page load times.
This happens when scripts block the rendering of the page, causing a poor user experience. Always use asynchronous loading techniques to mitigate this issue.

Related Concepts

Cross-domain Communication
Performance Optimization Techniques
HTML 5 Compliance