Quality Experience: How I Look for Jobs on LinkedIn

In a recent Slack discussion, someone brought up the frustration of looking for jobs on LinkedIn. Knowing how crazy the job market is, I shared my quick take on looking for jobs on LinkedIn. Here’s what I wrote:

Afterward, someone reached out to me and thanked me for this advice. To me, this seems like a normal tactic when searching for a job but I realize that not everyone may know how to do this.

NOTE: The screenshots posted are from my desktop view. I cannot guarantee the same results on a mobile device. If you have tips and tricks when searching through LinkedIn on mobile, please comment! The more we share the knowledge, the better.

So, consider the quote above your TL;DR. If you’d like more information, keep reading.

Here’s what I do when searching for a job on LinkedIn

Search Posts instead of Jobs

I’ve changed gigs a few times in my career and one thing I’ve noticed is that not everyone uses LinkedIn to post their open positions. But, they might create a post about the position. When searching through posts, here is what I recommend.

1. Type the position you want in the search bar. Hit enter.

2. Filter your results by posts. This will give you the position being discussed and the person discussing it.

1. Click the “Date Posted” option and select “Past 24 Hours”. Otherwise, you’ll be looking through weeks of posts. Not helpful.

1. For more filtered results, add the word “hiring” after the position you entered. So, in my case, it would look like this:

1. Start scrolling

Don’t apply for a job directly through LinkedIn

Why not? Let’s take a look at a job post.

Yeah, over 100 applicants have applied for this job. And, what’s the first thought that comes to my mind when I see that? They will never see my resume. This is probably correct. Humans (thankfully) are still the ones paging through all the resumes coming in. They are exhausted and the best thing we can do is to find some way to help us stand out. So, here’s what I do.

Connect with the person who posted the job

Yes. I out of the blue request a connection with the person posting the job. Sometimes I add a note, sometimes not. They may ghost me, but I have gotten a few jobs like this. In my view (feel free to correct me!), people are kind and they are tired and I think (hopefully) they want people like you and me to raise our hand to say we are interested in the position.

If I don’t receive a connection response from the person, I apply anyway for the job on the company website (again, not through LinkedIn). Applying through the website might give me a slightly better advantage. Who knows for sure, but maybe?

If they respond to my connection request, I always introduce myself, let them know I’m interested in the position, and ask if they would be willing to answer a couple of questions. (NOTE: Read the application!! Find something that could use some clarification. This will give you something to discuss when you introduce yourself). Here’s what I’ve said in the past:

Have your questions ready and be kind. Again, job searching is stressful for everyone, both the employer and the person looking. If you sound stressed, it may not ensure interest on their part.

Apply for the position

Once your questions are answered (give it about 24 hours) feel free to apply to the position and mention the person you spoke with. Typically, there is a text field where you can enter the names of referrals.

If the person you connected with did not answer your questions, apply anyway through the company site.

Keep Applying

Once, I made the mistake of not continuing to apply for jobs when I made it to the final stage of the interview process. My confidence took over and I thought I had it in the bag. I did not. I didn’t get that job and had to start the application process all over. If possible, try to get a few applications in process. Again, I know the market is brutal right now. This is a hard phase to be in. It’s easy to lose heart. But, even when you think you see the light at the end of the tunnel, keep applying. Don’t stop until you’ve signed the offer letter.

Expect the worst

When job searching, I try to set my expectations very low. Like, low, low. I tell myself it could be a year before I find something. I remind myself not to be surprised when I am ghosted. Truthfully, how a company treats you when applying is how they will treat you every day. So, try to take in the frustrating tactics as information on how it feels to work there. Some companies are fabulous in their hiring process. Stick with those and go for as long as you can. And, some companies are terrible. One recruiter rescheduled my initial interview three times. I declined to reschedule after the second attempt. In one final interview, I spent 3 hours with 6 six different people and they didn’t even let me know the outcome of my interview. I mean, obviously, I didn’t get the job, but really, just send me an email and tell me. This process sucks. Try to view it as objectively as possible.

Stay healthy

Job searching is a job in itself. It’s intense. It’s disheartening. It’s nerve-wracking. So, place boundaries around when you will job search. Make calendar events during your week to job search. And, make room in your week for people and events that matter. Your family still needs you. You need you! Continue to eat well, exercise, pray/meditate/be/stare at the wall/whatever you need to connect with the universe. Searching for a job is hard and it is only a slice of the real life you need to keep living. Don’t get sucked in and bogged down in the process.

Friend, I know things are hard. There is nothing fun about job searching. But, I want you to know that your worth is not determined by your job or your job search. You are valuable, you are good, and you are worth getting to know.

Keep looking. Don’t give up. You’ll find what you need.

Written with 🌕🥦Into the Cosmic Chicken Soup for the Soul I Immersive Experience playing in the background