With the rise of social media and professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, many job seekers are now using these sites to find and apply for jobs. LinkedIn has become one of the top resources for online job hunting, with over 660 million users worldwide. But is it okay to apply for jobs through LinkedIn? What are the pros and cons? Here is a comprehensive look at whether applying for jobs on LinkedIn is a good strategy.
The Benefits of Applying for Jobs on LinkedIn
There are several potential advantages to using LinkedIn to look for and apply to job openings:
- Access to many listings. LinkedIn has become one of the top job boards, with new positions posted daily. Just on LinkedIn Jobs alone, there are over 10 million active job listings.
- Tap into your network. Applying through LinkedIn allows you to see if you have any connections at the company and potentially get referred. Studies show referred candidates are much more likely to get interviews.
- Company pages provide insight. Researching the LinkedIn company page can give you valuable intel about the company culture, values, recent news, staff members, and more to help you determine if it’s a good fit.
- Apply with your profile. Your LinkedIn profile summarizes your background, skills, accomplishments, recommendations, and other details. Hiring managers can review your full profile when you apply through LinkedIn.
- Easy to manage applications. You can see, track, and manage all the jobs you’ve applied for in one place within LinkedIn.
- Some roles posted exclusively on LinkedIn. Certain companies will post openings only on LinkedIn Jobs, so applying there gives you access.
Applying through LinkedIn can provide additional visibility and convenience in some job search cases.
Potential Downsides of Applying on LinkedIn
However, there are also some cautions to keep in mind when using LinkedIn to look for a job:
- May miss roles not posted on LinkedIn. Some companies still rely primarily on their own career sites or other major job boards where they don’t cross-post every opening.
- Applicant tracking systems may cause issues. Many large companies use ATS that may not interface seamlessly with LinkedIn applications.
- Profiles don’t provide full information. Despite the profile, you still need to submit a tailored resume and cover letter to explain your experience.
- Easy to apply to too many roles. The ease of applying on LinkedIn can lead some candidates to apply to hundreds of jobs without being strategic.
- Scams and sketchy messages. Unfortunately, LinkedIn is not immune to job scams, sketchy messages, and predatory recruiters.
- Not all companies actively use LinkedIn. Some organizations and hiring managers in certain industries or niches do not leverage LinkedIn for recruiting.
While LinkedIn is a powerful job search tool, relying on it exclusively could cause you to miss openings and opportunities in some cases.
Tips for Applying for Jobs on LinkedIn
If you do want to use LinkedIn as part of your job search approach, here are some tips to use it effectively:
- Complete your profile. Fill out all sections, include keywords, get recommendations, and put your best foot forward just as you would with a resume.
- Use advanced search filters. Tailor your search criteria by title, location, date posted, company, industry, seniority level, and other filters.
- Look beyond LinkedIn Jobs. Check company pages, groups, hashtags, and follower lists for openings that may not be posted on LinkedIn Jobs.
- Research before applying. Review the company page, employee profiles, news, and other sources to make sure it’s a good fit.
- Use your network. Talk to connections at the company to get insights and possibly get your application viewed. But avoid spamming all connections with requests.
- Customize your application. Tailor your cover letter, tweak your resume, and communicate why you’re a strong match.
- Follow up after applying. Contact the recruiter or hiring manager a week later if you don’t hear back.
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Use other resources in addition to LinkedIn to maximize your chances.
Should You Apply for Jobs on LinkedIn or a Company Website?
When a job is posted on both LinkedIn and a company’s career site, which is better to use to submit your application? Here is a comparison:
Apply through LinkedIn | Apply through Company Site |
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In general, it’s often smart to apply through both LinkedIn and the company site when possible. This gives you multiple opportunities for your application to be seen and considered. The exception would be if a job post specifically says only to apply through one or the other.
How to Send a Direct Job Application through LinkedIn
In addition to responding to posted job listings, you can use LinkedIn to directly reach out to hiring managers at companies you’re interested in. Here are some tips for sending a LinkedIn direct application:
- Identify companies you want to work for, even if they don’t have posted openings.
- Research to find the relevant recruiter, hiring manager, or department head to contact.
- Review their LinkedIn profile for background info and to personalize your message.
- Send a customized connection request explaining your interest in opportunities.
- Mention your relevant background, passion for the company, cultural fit, and how you could contribute.
- Attach your resume and links to your portfolio in the message.
- Follow up if you don’t get a response within a week or two.
Sending direct outreach messages on LinkedIn is a proactive way to get on a company’s radar even if they aren’t actively listing job openings currently. Just be sure your messages are professional and tailored, not lazy copy-pasted spam.
Common LinkedIn Job Scams and How to Avoid Them
While there are lots of legitimate job opportunities on LinkedIn, users also need to be aware of potential employment scams. Here are some red flags to watch out for:
- Jobs that seem too good to be true with high pay for little experience.
- Listings with spelling and grammar errors.
- Requests for personal information like bank account and Social Security numbers.
- Pressure to pay fees for training or materials.
- Jobs that require depositing money, forwarding packages, or reshipping products.
- Communications that come from non-company email accounts.
- Interviewers who don’t ask about your skills and experience.
To avoid falling victim to a scam, thoroughly research the company, look for online reviews, watch for signs during interviews, and never send money or sensitive personal information.
Pros and Cons of Applying for Jobs Through LinkedIn
To summarize key advantages and disadvantages of using LinkedIn for your job search:
Pros | Cons |
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Conclusion
LinkedIn can be a powerful job search resource. It provides access to millions of listings, allows you to tap into your professional network, and enables easy application tracking. However, relying solely on LinkedIn could cause you to miss potential opportunities.
The ideal approach is to incorporate LinkedIn as one of several options, along with company career sites, job boards, recruiting firms, networking, and more. Conduct customized research before applying and leverage both your profile and full resume documents. With the right strategy, applying through LinkedIn can connect you to your next great job match.