LinkedIn just made it easier to apply for a job, thanks to the launch of its new "Apply With LinkedIn" button.

The business-oriented social network is billing the new feature as "the future of job applications." The company's goal is to make the job application process as simple as a click.

"Our goal with Apply With LinkedIn is to help every professional put their best foot forward, anywhere across the web when they take that leap to apply for a new position," Technical Product Manager Jonathan Seitel said on the company's blog.

The button is much like the Twitter tweet button or the Facebook Like button in that companies can embed it on their website. The button essentially lets you submit your LinkedIn profile as your resume — no cover letter necessary. Once you submit your job application, you are given the opportunity to message your contacts at the company and ask for a referral. You can see how the button works in the slideshow below.

LinkedIn also makes it easy for you to manage your job applications with a "Saved Jobs" tab, so you can always double check who has your application.

For businesses looking to hire, it's a simpler way to screen candidates. LinkedIn profiles are uniform and easily searchable, and the button only requires a few lines of code to implement. It integrates with several application tracking systems as well, so many companies can just incorporate the LinkedIn job application feed into their existing infrastructure. Netflix, Tripit and Photobucket will be some of the first companies to feature the button on their websites.

The Apply With LinkedIn button is based on the idea that the resume is an outdated relic. Why submit a resume when all of that information (and more) is available on a LinkedIn profile? Still, the button is almost too easy. One can see a desperate job seeker clicking on the button and submitting his or her job application to hundreds of potential employers, regardless of his or her qualifications.

What do you think of the Apply With LinkedIn button? Will you use it for your business or in your job search? Let us know in the comments.

LinkedIn Apply

Lead image courtesy of Flickr, Nam Palmero