With the rise of online job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed, it can be confusing to know where to look for job opportunities. LinkedIn and Indeed are two of the most popular sites for job seekers, but do they actually have the same jobs listed? Here is an in-depth comparison of how LinkedIn and Indeed’s job boards differ.
LinkedIn vs Indeed Overview
LinkedIn and Indeed are both large job sites that allow companies to post job openings which job seekers can search and apply for. However, there are some key differences:
- LinkedIn is a social networking site for professionals, with a job board as one of its features. Indeed is solely a job search engine.
- LinkedIn job postings tend to be more white-collar professional roles. Indeed has listings for all types of jobs including blue-collar and service industry.
- LinkedIn job listings are posted directly by companies/recruiters. Indeed aggregates listings from many job boards including company sites.
- LinkedIn has over 575 million members. Indeed gets over 250 million visitors per month.
So while there is some overlap in the roles posted, LinkedIn and Indeed each have unique advantages for different types of job seekers and companies.
Comparing the LinkedIn and Indeed Job Boards
Types of jobs posted
As mentioned above, there is a difference in the types of job roles commonly listed on LinkedIn versus Indeed:
- LinkedIn: Tends to have more white-collar professional jobs – executive, management, office/administrative, finance, engineering, IT, sales, marketing, HR, etc.
- Indeed: Has listings for all types of roles including blue-collar, service industry, warehouse, construction, food service, retail, healthcare, education, and more.
This pattern occurs because of how each site operates:
- LinkedIn’s audience is primarily white-collar professionals who are members. Companies know this and target their job ads accordingly.
- Indeed scrapes listings from many sources including company career sites. This wider net captures roles across industries and levels.
Job titles and seniority
Related to the point above, the types of job titles and seniority levels also differ between the sites:
Site | Job Titles/Seniority |
---|---|
Manager, Director, Vice President, C-level, etc. | |
Indeed | Associate, Coordinator, Supervisor, Clerk, Server, Aide, Technician, etc. |
So LinkedIn tends to have more executive and senior-level roles, while Indeed has entry-level and intermediate roles across industries.
Salaries
Salaries for the same types of roles also tend to be higher for jobs listed on LinkedIn compared to Indeed. Some examples:
Role | Indeed | |
---|---|---|
Marketing Manager | $90,000 | $70,000 |
Software Engineer | $120,000 | $95,000 |
Project Manager | $85,000 | $65,000 |
The increased salaries generally correspond with the more senior-level roles common on LinkedIn.
Locations
In terms of locations, Indeed has a more even distribution of jobs across cities and regions in the US:
- LinkedIn tends to have more jobs concentrated in major metro areas like New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc.
- Indeed has significant listings for roles nationwide, including smaller metro areas and rural regions.
This occurs because Indeed pulls data from broader sources while LinkedIn matches its member base. If you’re job searching outside of a major city, Indeed may have more options.
Company pages
An important difference is that LinkedIn offers companies their own customizable pages separate from the main job board section. Here companies can highlight their culture, benefits, photos, employee spotlights, and recruiter contact information. Indeed does not offer this – it is purely a job search engine.
Unique Features of Each Site
Beyond the job listings themselves, LinkedIn and Indeed have unique features that add value in different ways:
LinkedIn features
- Profiles – Candidates can showcase work history, skills, education, honors, volunteer work, and more on their profile.
- Networking – Users can connect with colleagues, clients, group members, and follow companies to build a professional network.
- Recommendations – Members can request and share recommendations to showcase skills and gain credibility.
- Groups – There are millions of professional groups to join for networking, advice, and discussing industry news.
- Job alerts – Members can set up email job alerts to be notified when new roles of interest are posted.
- Salary tool – The salary comparison tool shows pay ranges for specific roles based on criteria like location and experience.
Indeed features
- Advanced search – Options like keyword, location, salary, company, job type, and experience level can be combined for precise results.
- Resume database – Millions of resumes can be searched by recruiters looking for qualified candidates.
- Skills tests – Job seekers can take skills assessments relevant to their field and have the results sent to employers.
- Company pages – Detailed pages show employee reviews, salaries, interviews, benefits, photos, and recommendations about work culture.
- Job Map – Local jobs can be browsed on an interactive map to see openings near any location.
So while both sites allow searching open positions, each platform offers unique tools tailored to its core user bases of job seekers and employers/recruiters.
Pros and Cons of Each Site
Given the differences discussed, here are some key pros and cons of using LinkedIn vs Indeed when job searching:
LinkedIn Pros
- Good for higher level professional roles – executive, management, etc.
- Jobs posted directly by employers
- Can leverage network connections during job search
- Employer pages offer insight into company culture/workplace
LinkedIn Cons
- Fewer listings for entry level, blue collar, service industry roles
- Most jobs concentrated in major metro areas
- Having an extensive profile is important for standing out
Indeed Pros
- Broad selection of jobs across industries, levels and locations
- Advanced search filters make finding the right jobs easy
- Can apply to jobs directly on site
- Company reviews provide inside look from employees
Indeed Cons
- Employer pages lack the depth of LinkedIn
- Some listings can be duplicated or outdated
- Cannot leverage connections or network
- May lack higher level executive roles
When to Use Each Site
Based on their respective strengths, here are some guidelines on when to use LinkedIn versus Indeed in your job search:
- Use LinkedIn if you are:
- A mid/senior-level professional in fields like business, finance, tech, marketing, healthcare, etc.
- Looking to leverage your professional network
- Targeting roles in major metro areas like NYC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc.
- Use Indeed if you are:
- An entry or mid-level candidate across all industries and locations
- Interested in blue collar, retail, food service, teaching, or healthcare roles
- Searching for openings in smaller cities or rural areas
Some additional cases where one site may be better:
- If you want direct contact with recruiters, use LinkedIn where they are actively posting.
- If you have a limited resume, use Indeed where profiles are not required to apply.
- If you want to change industries, LinkedIn’s networking may help transition roles.
How to Use Both Sites for Maximum Benefit
While each site has pros and cons, using both Indeed and LinkedIn as part of your search can provide the most access to relevant job opportunities. Here are some tips to maximize your results on both platforms:
- Spend time fleshing out your LinkedIn profile to attract recruiter attention.
- Leverage LinkedIn’s advanced job search features to filter by title, company, experience level, etc.
- On Indeed, use filters like location, salary range, and job type to match your preferences.
- Set up email alerts on both sites so matching new listings get sent to your inbox.
- Upload your resume to Indeed’s database for recruiters to contact you about openings.
- Check back regularly as new jobs get posted daily.
- Use Indeed to find suitable openings, then check LinkedIn to connect with company recruiters.
Putting this combination of strategies into action provides the greatest amount of access to the right opportunities on both ubiquitous platforms.
Conclusion
In summary, while LinkedIn and Indeed share some overlap in job listings, each site has unique advantages:
- LinkedIn is better for connecting mid/senior-level professionals with recruiters.
- Indeed provides the largest volume of listings across all levels, industries and locations.
Ideally, job seekers should utilize both platforms to tap into their respective strengths. With LinkedIn’s networking and Indeed’s reach, candidates can surface many more relevant opportunities.
The key is understanding the types of roles and benefits provided by each. By tailoring search strategies to LinkedIn and Indeed’s core competencies, professionals can maximize their chances of securing the right position.