Getting relevant job suggestions on LinkedIn can really help your job search by presenting opportunities that closely match your skills, experience and interests. But if your feed is full of jobs that don’t seem like a good fit, there are several things you can do to improve the relevance of the job recommendations you see.
Make sure your profile is up to date
LinkedIn job suggestions are powered by algorithms that analyze the information in your profile. So having an accurate, detailed profile is key for getting suggestions that make sense for you. Here are some tips for optimizing your profile:
- Include all your work experience – List each position you’ve held, along with a description of your responsibilities and achievements.
- Detail your skills – Use LinkedIn’s skills section to list out all your areas of expertise.
- Share your education – List all degrees and certifications, along with details on your field of study.
- Customize your LinkedIn URL – Claim a unique URL with your name to establish your professional brand.
- Write an informative summary – Use your summary section to provide an overview of your background and goals.
The more information you provide in your profile, the better sense LinkedIn’s algorithms will have of your professional capabilities and interests. Taking the time to build out a robust, detailed profile pays off when it comes to getting relevant job matches.
Tailor your interests
Beyond just your work history and skills, LinkedIn also looks at the interests you indicate in your profile when making job suggestions. Here are some ways to tailor this section in order to see more fitting roles:
- Add all applicable interests – The more keywords you provide, the better.
- Think outside the job title – Don’t just list your current or desired job title. Include related interests like skills, industries, methodologies, etc.
- Get granular – For example, instead of just “computer programming,” list specific languages like Python, JavaScript, C++.
- Use related job titles – For example, if you’re interested in digital marketing, also include online advertising, email marketing, SEO, social media marketing.
Optimizing this section takes some thought and effort up front, but it can really pay off when you’re job searching and want to see the most relevant opportunities.
Follow companies you’re interested in
Following specific companies you’d like to work for or are interested in on LinkedIn is another great way to improve the relevance of your job suggestions. Here are some advantages to following target companies:
- See jobs at that company first – You’ll get notified when open roles are posted so you can apply early before competition builds up.
- Gain company insights – Following pages lets you stay up to date on company news, projects, culture and leadership changes.
- Make connections – You can connect with and message employees at companies you follow to network and learn more.
- Show interest – Following a company signals to recruiters that you have specific interest in their opportunities.
To get started, search for companies you’re interested in and click “follow” on their LinkedIn page. This small step can expose you to many more fitting roles.
Join industry and interest groups
LinkedIn Groups based on industries, job functions and interests are another option for improving the relevance of your job recommendations. Here’s how joining Groups helps:
- See openings posted in the Group – Many job opportunities are posted and discussed within Groups.
- Connect with like-minded professionals – You can network with and learn from others in your field.
- Demonstrate expertise – Active participation shows your knowledge and passion for the Group’s focus.
- Get noticed – Potential employers and recruiters often look through Groups for talent.
Search LinkedIn for Groups related to your experience and interests and join those that seem most promising. But make sure to actively engage in your Groups to get the full benefit.
Location matters
Where you indicate you are based on your LinkedIn profile can affect the jobs suggested to you as well. Here are some location-related tips:
- Accurately list your location – This helps surface jobs near where you currently live or work.
- Open to relocating? Say so – You can list multiple locations where you’re willing to work.
- Tailor suggestions locally or globally – There are settings to focus job recs to your area or worldwide.
Think carefully about your location preferences and needs to ensure your job suggestions are aligned. You can always change these settings later as your priorities evolve.
Evaluate and improve over time
Getting impactful job suggestions from LinkedIn requires an ongoing investment. Be sure to regularly:
- Review profile completeness and accuracy – Keep building out all sections as your experience grows.
- Assess interests – Add emerging interests over time as your goals change.
- Join new Groups – Look for active Groups as you take on new roles and responsibilities.
- Follow more companies – Seek out additional companies you’re interested in working for.
- Check location settings – Update locations to account for moves or openness to remote work.
By continually optimizing your profile and settings, your LinkedIn job suggestions will improve and become more tailored over time.
Leverage LinkedIn Premium
For the most robust level of control over your job recommendations, upgrading to a LinkedIn Premium subscription can be very beneficial. Here are some key advantages of Premium for improving job suggestions:
- See how you’re matched with jobs – Premium provides details on exactly how your profile aligns with suggested roles.
- Advanced profile filtering – You can filter based on company size, industry, job functions and other options.
- Location radius – Set a specific geographic radius to focus job matches locally if desired.
- Salary range – Filter suggestions to only jobs matching your desired salary range.
- Easy application settings – One-click options to signal your interest in a job.
For job seekers who use LinkedIn extensively in their search, the additional targeting and filtering of Premium can provide a lot of value for focusing your recommendations.
Try searching vs. relying solely on suggestions
While getting tailored job suggestions can be extremely helpful, don’t forget that you can always take matters into your own hands and proactively search for jobs as well. Here are some benefits to mixing in your own searches:
- Full visibility into openings out there – You can see all matching jobs, not just suggested ones.
- Control and focus – Search by keywords, locations, companies and other filters important to you.
- Find non-algorithmic fits – Sometimes you know a job is a good match despite the algorithm missing it.
- Change it up – Mix up relying on suggestions vs. taking initiative to search on your own.
Leveraging LinkedIn’s powerful search features in addition to following recommendations can provide a more complete view of the job market and how your experience aligns with opportunities out there.
Conclusion
Getting relevant, high quality job suggestions on LinkedIn can streamline and improve your job search process significantly. But it does require some time and effort optimizing your profile, settings and activity on the platform. By keeping your profile up-to-date, tailoring your interests, following companies, joining Groups and leveraging Premium features, you can continually refine your recommendations over time. Mix this with proactively searching for openings as well. With a strategic approach, LinkedIn’s job suggestions can become an invaluable asset in your job hunt.