LinkedIn is a great platform for networking and job searching. When you’re actively looking for jobs, it’s easy to lose track of all the postings you’ve viewed. Fortunately, LinkedIn makes it simple to see a record of all the jobs you’ve looked at.
There are a couple ways to access your job viewing history on LinkedIn. The easiest way is to use the “Jobs” tab on your homepage. This will show you a list of jobs you’ve applied to as well as ones you’ve only viewed. You can also see your full viewing history using LinkedIn’s search function.
Viewing Your Job Search History
Here are the steps to see all the jobs you’ve viewed on LinkedIn:
Use the Jobs Tab
1. Go to your homepage and click on the “Jobs” tab near the top of the page (to the right of your profile photo).
2. On this page you’ll see two sections: “Jobs you’ve applied to” and “Jobs you’ve viewed.” The latter will show you a list of all jobs you’ve clicked on to view, even if you didn’t formally apply.
3. You can click “See all” at the bottom of this section to view your full history of viewed jobs.
Use LinkedIn’s Search Function
1. Click on the search bar at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
2. Type “jobs viewed by me” and hit enter.
3. LinkedIn will display your full history of job postings you’ve viewed.
Important Notes
Here are some additional things to keep in mind when viewing your LinkedIn job search history:
– LinkedIn will track your job viewing history for the past 6 months. If you want to see further back than that, you’ll have to rely on your memory.
– Some types of job views won’t be tracked in your history. For example, if you view a job while in anonymous browsing mode, it won’t be recorded.
– Your job viewing history is private and not visible to anyone else. It’s just for your own reference as you manage your job search.
– LinkedIn job tracking is based on active clicks on postings. Just seeing a job in search results won’t add it to your history.
– You can remove individual jobs from your viewing history using the drop down menu in the list.
– On desktop, your full viewing history is visible. On mobile, you may need to click “See all” to expand the list.
Why Review Your LinkedIn Job Views
There are a few reasons why it can be helpful to periodically review the list of jobs you’ve viewed on LinkedIn:
Jog Your Memory on Job Details
When you’ve applied to a lot of jobs, it can be hard to remember the details of each one. Checking your LinkedIn history lets you refresh your memory so you’re prepared if you get an interview.
Avoid Duplicate Effort
Seeing a compiled list of jobs you’ve already viewed or applied to prevents you from wasting time looking at the same opportunities twice.
Track Your Search Progress
Your viewing history gives you a sense of how comprehensive your job search has been. You can see if you need to expand to other industries or locations.
Follow Up on Application Status
For jobs you’ve applied to, checking your history can remind you to follow up with the company if you haven’t heard back.
Benefit | Details |
---|---|
Jog your memory | Review job details so you’re prepared for interviews |
Avoid duplicate effort | Don’t waste time looking at jobs you’ve already viewed |
Track search progress | See if you need to expand your search criteria |
Follow up on applications | Check status if you haven’t heard back from a company |
How Long Does LinkedIn Store Your Job Viewing History?
LinkedIn will keep your job viewing history and activity for the past 6 months. After that, the data is removed from your account and anonymized.
The 6 month period gives you enough time to keep track of your recent search efforts while also protecting your privacy in the long run. Older data is aggregated and de-identified before being used to generally improve LinkedIn’s services.
If you need to document your job search efforts beyond 6 months, consider downloading your data history or maintaining your own records outside of LinkedIn.
Some key points about LinkedIn’s data retention policy:
– All job viewing and application data is kept for 6 months
– After 6 months, your personal history is deleted
– General usage patterns may still inform LinkedIn’s product development
– You can download your data for up to 6 months via privacy settings
– For older history, keep your own records outside LinkedIn
Overall, the 6 month retention period strikes a good balance for members. You have enough search history to be useful, without indefinite storage of your private data.
Steps to Download Your LinkedIn Job Search History
If you want to save a record of your LinkedIn job search history beyond the 6 month retention period, you can easily download your personal data:
Request an Archive of Your Data
1. Go to your LinkedIn account settings
2. Click on the Privacy tab
3. Under “Download your data,” click on “Request archive”
Select Data to Include
1. On the archive page, select the types of data to include
2. Be sure to check the boxes for “Job applications” and “Job views”
3. You can also include other job search info like contacts and messages
Provide Email and Request Archive
1. Enter the email where you want the download link sent
2. Click the “Request archive” button to complete the request
3. LinkedIn will email you a link when the archive is ready
Access and Save Your Data
1. Use the link in the email to access your LinkedIn data archive
2. Save copies of the job history information to your computer or other location
3. You can now access your full job search history even after 6 months
Downloading your data lets you save important information even if you are no longer actively searching. Just be sure to periodically request a new archive to stay up to date.
How Viewing Jobs Impacts LinkedIn’s Algorithm
Your job viewing and application activity affects the algorithm behind LinkedIn’s job recommendations and search results. Here’s an overview of how it works:
Job Views Customize Future Recommendations
The main jobs feed on LinkedIn will begin showing postings similar to ones you’ve clicked on before. Your views provide data to tailor recommendations.
Frequent Searches Inform Search Results
Searching for the same keywords over time will make those jobs appear higher in results, since LinkedIn assumes you’re interested.
Applications Show You’re Engaged
Applying to jobs signals greater engagement vs just passive viewing. LinkedIn may boost profiles of active job seekers in some features.
Anonymous Browsing Limits Tracking
If you use anonymous browsing, your job viewing history won’t be used to customize your experience or feed recommendations.
In summary, LinkedIn personalizes based on the jobs you show interest in through your search habits and application activity. Being aware of this can help optimize your process.
Action | Impact on Algorithm |
---|---|
Job views | Tailors future recommendations |
Frequent searches | Prioritizes results for those keywords |
Job applications | Signals greater engagement with jobs |
Anonymous browsing | Limits tracking for personalized results |
Conclusion
Reviewing your LinkedIn job viewing history is simple using the “Jobs” section or LinkedIn search. This gives you valuable insights into your previous search efforts. It can help avoid repeating steps while optimizing your strategy. Just remember LinkedIn will delete data older than 6 months unless you proactively download an archive. Your job search activity also informs the recommendations and results you see on LinkedIn. So your viewing and application habits contribute to a personalized experience.