Recruiters can take a shortcut to the top people on LinkedIn using a new tool.

Julie Inouye, product PR lead at LinkedIn in the US, told Recruiter that LinkedIn Skills is designed to search for different skills, both for jobseekers and recruiters, and with the product in beta testing is keen for feedback.

Tens of thousands of skills are listed, ranging from ballet and cockney to Android and iPhone. Users key in a particular skill in the Skills & Expertise box (found under ’More’ in the top bar and then ’Skills’) and it will return the top professionals in that sector, related skills, top locations for those skills, related companies where they are required, specific job adverts, as well as related groups on LinkedIn.

A bar graph also tells you whether the skill is growing or not and compares it to related skills. So currently if you key in SEO (search engine optimisation), it is the 43rd most popular skill on the network but link-building is actually a faster growing skill at the moment.

Recruiter asked on what criteria the top professionals qualify to be listed and while it is based on a secret algorithm that cleverly sorts through LinkedIn’s 90m plus professionals on the network, we were told that members can increase their chances of moving up the rankings by ensuring their profile is complete, their skills are relevant and up-to-date, are active in online conversations around that subject and have recommendations within their profile.

Because the product is in beta, LinkedIn has only focused on locations for cities in the US, Canada and Britain so far, but has plans to expand these as the product evolves.

www.linkedin.com/skills