Does anyone actually find success in the job application process on LinkedIn—applying, hearing back, interviewing, and ultimately getting hired for the role they applied to?

39 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 16,2025 at 3:04PM UTC

   No success.

2. AnonymousSeptember 16,2025 at 3:10PM UTC

   Yes, but I do not apply through LinkedIn quick apply. I go to the company’s website and apply. The reason I do this is that I don’t think the full resume and details are sent in the same readable format to the hiring manager or HR as the one provided by the company. Many companies use Workday or other apps that have their own workflow and formatting which is more friendly for the company to read and it flows through their automation systems properly. When you apply using LinkedIn, it circumvents these systems making it harder for the company to sift through applicants from multiple systems (internal and external). Also, their internal systems ask the proper questions that the hiring manager wants to see or HR needs to process the application. It just adds an extra step and I feel companies don’t want to go through that and they neglect applications that don’t flow through their systems. Just my 2 cents that LinkedIn is good for finding open positions, researching companies and networking but not great for submitting job applications.

3. AnonymousSeptember 16,2025 at 3:27PM UTC

   yes, I do this as well via the company site rather than apply through LinkedIn. I even do cover letters along with my resume. But still nothing but thanks but no thanks.

4. AnonymousSeptember 16,2025 at 4:23PM UTC

   Yes, worked for me. One suggestion is use ChatGPT or other sites that can help align keywords etc in the job posting to your resume and cover letter. It's just part of the game these days, unfortunately - obviously, don't be dishonest, but it will save you so much time. Employers are using technology to post jobs and screen candidates, so you have to use technology to get your resume seen. Stick with it!

5. Barbara M.September 16,2025 at 7:31PM UTC

   Please know your experience is shared by so many of us and it’s not a reflection of your worth or skills. Keep on swimming! The right role will recognize what you bring.

6. LauraSeptember 16,2025 at 10:01PM UTC

   Here's a YouTube video I did on niche job board sites that may be helpful if you're looking for sites outside of LinkedIn or Indeed:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ihnuI8bzGU

7. Debbie CreeSeptember 17,2025 at 2:38PM UTC

   I watched the video. I will check them out. Thanks!

8. AnonymousSeptember 17,2025 at 1:21AM UTC

   I have a had about 4 interviews over the past 60 days from linkedin but I havent landed any roles yet. Im mid-senior level with over 7 years experience, and my resume is on 1 page. I paid someone to write it, I didnt like it then decided to rewrite some parts myself and used several LLMs to perfect it. It took me about 2 -3 months to perfect my resume. I have another interview tomorrow also from linkedin .

9. Debbie CreeSeptember 17,2025 at 2:30PM UTC

   Best of luck!

10. Debbie CachatSeptember 17,2025 at 12:37PM UTC

    No

11. AnonymousSeptember 17,2025 at 1:18PM UTC

    Unfortunately, not! I've been on this journey of job searching for 2 years now and it has been the most challenging ever. Not sure if it's just with LinkedIn, or Indeed, etc. or if it's just the awful job scamming or ghosting that has emerged. So frustrating.

12. AnonymousSeptember 17,2025 at 1:45PM UTC

    I found my current job on LinkedIn and my company uses it as their primary recruiting/job posting site.

13. AnonymousSeptember 17,2025 at 3:39PM UTC

    Not in my opinion..

14. AnonymousSeptember 17,2025 at 3:42PM UTC

    From what I've read, the "applicant" number is fake and really the number of people who just clicked on the job, but not necessarily applied. I've applied to a bunch over the years and have had a mixed bag: some led to interviews but nothing to an actual job.

    It does require a lot of due diligence: was it shared within your network, can you find it on the company's website, etc.? There's a higher chance if someone posts about it. Sometimes I find people will post about the job on their LI but it's not actually a job on LinkedIn itself--you need to go to the website or whatever.

    You're not alone!

15. AnonymousSeptember 17,2025 at 3:45PM UTC

    It depends upon how the company is using LI for their sourcing of candidates. The larger companies might have a dual layered talent team where there is a sourcer going through those responses. I generally suggest you apply directly to the company website if you can vs. LI since that is far more direct unless you are specifically directed to the LI link from an ad. Good luck.

16. dotsydoSeptember 17,2025 at 4:46PM UTC

    I did know a couple of folks who got jobs through LinkedIn, but many others, including myself, who did not. I'm on the tail end of my career (I've had two, actually) and been working 40+ years. Been through ups and downs, recessions, etc. The advent of online applications & LinkedIn has really changed the job market. Ridiculously specific and overly demanding job descriptions. Hundreds of applicants for each job. Employer ghosting. (It's a lot like online dating.) Bottom line - the hiring process does not work that much better today than the old days. The one constant that always helped and STILL helps in getting a job is who you know, and who they might know who can help you at a specific organization.

17. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 18,2025 at 1:09AM UTC

    I hire people who have applied from LinkedIn and places like Indeed.

    OK, so first off, when it says "Over 100 people clicked apply" - that does not mean that 100 people actually applied to the position.

    That just means that over 100 people CLICKED THROUGH THE JOB POSTING.

    LinkedIn does not know whether or not a jobseeker completes an application in my company's ATS - they do not have access to that information.

    Typically just a fraction of the jobseekers actually complete an application.

    And of those that do complete an application, roughly 90% are not a fit.

    Some recruiter math: 200 people click through the job posting - 50 actually complete an application - 90% of those will not be qualified - now I'm left with 5 potential candidates.

    So just because it may have a lot of applicants doesn't mean it had the qualified applicants needed.

    You may not be competing with as many people as you think.

    If you're qualified, please apply!

    For the most part, if my job is still posted - no matter how long it's been open - I still need candidates!

    When you click on one of the LI job postings from my company, you are taken directly to our site.

    We don't use EasyApply on LI but I have not heard good things about it and would not recommend jobseekers use it.

    You wrote "And how many strong candidates end up being passed over—and for what reasons? "

    It's the simple law of supply and demand.

    Hundreds of thousands (millions?) of layoffs = hundreds of thousands of additional jobseekers X hundreds of thousands less jobs.

    Even if you feel you're a great fit for the position, chances are pretty good that there's someone who'd just a bit better of a fit.

    Just because you didn't get an interview or get hired, didn't mean that others didn't. Only one person gets the job.

    In this exceptionally tough job market, 50 applications is not all that much. Keep moving forward, keep applying.

    Please let me know if you have any questions.

    GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

18. Kelly DifigliaSeptember 18,2025 at 12:46PM UTC

    Thank you very much wonderful Joan Williams for the response and to the fabulous person who posted the question initially!

    Another question related to pressing the submit button whether it's on LinkedIn or the company website, does a human potentially actually look at my resume or is it just a machine or AI or such?

    This question has been bouncing in my brain as I have so much variety of experience even within the loyalty of being with the same organization for 25 years prior to being ready for something new and fresh.

    With this in mind, my resume does have a noteworthy variety of arenas that I have mastered being promoted numerous times.

    It is interesting to me that a human brain would pick up on that, wherein it is simply my opinion that a computer reader or some sort of artificial intelligence may be overly binary in comparison to the good old human brain ;-)

    Thank you in advance Ms. John Williams for replying with your wisdom should your time allow.

    With immense gratitude,

    Kelly DiFiglia:))

19. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 18,2025 at 6:07PM UTC

    I look at every resume that applies to my open positions.

    I have several comments on this post that explain what happens when you apply:

    https://fairygodboss.com/community-discussion/AjvC2ce3K/should-you-list-caregiver-dates

    Please let me know if you have any questions.

20. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 1:10AM UTC

    It has only been helpful for me when I know the person in real life. I have tried tossing my resume into the void, but it doesn't yield good results. Linked in is useful for getting back in touch with former co-workers and I know people who successfully made a first contact there with someone who eventually offered them a job. I think that the more you can make human contact, especially if they already know you or they know a friend of yours who will be a good reference, the more likely you are to get job opportunities. Always be wary on Linked In because there are some scammers and creepers mixed in with legitimate opportunities.

21. Jessica BeasleySeptember 18,2025 at 4:57AM UTC

    I will go directly to the company's website to apply for the job, instead of on LinkedIn.

22. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 12:12PM UTC

    My current and last job were from LinkedIn posts.

23. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 12:28PM UTC

    I was just invited to an interview yesterday, however it turned out to be some sort of a scam. Sadly, it looked real, the recruiter had a page, but the link for the zoom meeting was a trojan. It tried to download onto my computer under the guise of updating zoom. The actual meeting ID an password were not valid, and my antivirus stopped the attack. Be careful.

24. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 12:31PM UTC

    I got my current job by applying on linked in, it is NOT the norm. I did all kinds of networking and am shocked that the job I ended up in was from a cold linked in application. So, it still happens!

25. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 12:40PM UTC

    Not sure there's a way to know this. The best method on LI is to apply directly to the co website not use the Easy Apply button. Resume does need to be tailored to the job, there are onerous ATS guidelines to pay attention to. Best to apply as one of the first, not a few days later. This year, job searches are on average 6 months, and it's taking over 300 applications to get it done. The 'thanks but no thanks' is likely ATS generated, the resume did not meet the specs on the JD. All that said, many jobs on LI are fake (not scams), co do post to make competitors think they are doing well (go figure, but that's out there). If you go the to co website and see the posting there, more likely to be a true opening. Understand: your background being extremely qualified means squat if the resume does not match the JD.

26. Lori BSeptember 18,2025 at 12:41PM UTC

    No. I find it frustrating too. Impersonal

27. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 12:49PM UTC

    No

28. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 1:03PM UTC

    I got my current job through LinkedIn (the quick apply not linking back to a website) 3.5 years ago. With my company, that is our primary tool (in our region we really dislike our ATS).

29. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 1:06PM UTC

    Great question. I'm on there everyday and I still haven't gotten hired through the site, even though they have great opportunities on the site however I have no luck.

30. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 1:11PM UTC

    It's typically advised to use LinkedIn for job searching but not for applying. Which is a pain because it's just another step. But if you can find the job posting on the company's site and apply there vs. on LinkedIn, that is apparently the better option as far as potential visibility of your application. I think LinkedIn is so oversaturated at this point that many applications there fall into a black hole.

31. Kimberley Ferretti HammettSeptember 18,2025 at 2:40PM UTC

    I got my previous job about 6 years ago via LinkedIn application, however, they reached out and asked to fill out another application through their site. After getting hired, since I'm in the HR world I saw the backend of it all.

    They used LinkedIn as a sourcer but not their primary ATS and they didn't link together so it would've been really easy for me to be overlooked if they had a lot of applicants because it's an extra step for them to go through the linkedin applicants seperate from those that apply directly. I will say, the benefit of applying through LinkedIn, though, is there's a full profile and activity right there. It's like the benefit of Facebook Marketplace vs. Craigslist you know.. there's a little more background available to build trust. And I posted often on LI and had essentially a brand built on there.. so they had a lot more to go off of. So if you have that.. I'd say continue applying on LI maybe sometimes as well as directly and if you don't have much of a presence on LI, use it like they do, as a source. Find posted positions on there and then go to the company's career site directly if you can.

    Good luck!

32. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 2:47PM UTC

    It sounds the same with my experience. Because of this experiences I say to my self what' wrong with me, is there something wrong with my qualification? do I need to continue applying since this is what happened. I end up with so many questions.

33. MichelleSeptember 18,2025 at 2:56PM UTC

    LinkedIn IS a BLACKHOLE for job seekers!

    I NEVER apply through there and there's a LOT of fact job postings out there on LinkedIn. If I see something on there that I'm interested in, I will go DIRECTLY to the company website and see IF it's posted there as well, and IF it is, I apply there.

    Most of the REMOTE positions are the ones that have over a hundred people applying and most of them just send 'generic' resumes and the ATS systems will kick them out anyway.

34. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 3:20PM UTC

    I use LinkedIn to find out about jobs and apply directly on the company site. I also sign up for LinkedIn alerts especially for ones posted within 24 hours. I've found Indeed, Glassdoor and LinkedIn provide opportunities but I hear back more if I use that information to apply on the company's website. Good luck!

35. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 6:41PM UTC

    Hi. Yes I have had successful job offers from LinkedIn In. I would say first before the job market got so bad recruiters reached out to me. My current role I applied in LinkedIn and then messaged the hiring manager. We were already connected. However , I had well over 100 applications go nowhere.

36. AnonymousSeptember 18,2025 at 8:42PM UTC

    Yes, you can get hired via LinkedIn. It's a good idea to set job alerts so as it opens you go in then and apply, then find someone with the company and connect with them. Clicking and applying is not going to get you a job. Go back to your alma mater and use their career services for alums. Use their recruiting system, should they have one. Network with those who are in positions you're interested in and request a mentor. The more you know people, the more you will get a connection to get in. And the more you're connected, the more you'll learn about their company culture. Also follow companies on LI too. You are among thousands and thousands seeking work. If you get dumped into an ATS, great, but it's like a lottery, what's the chance you'll get the call that way? Be more personal and intentional in your job search. I'm in a career center, I work with employers daily. The love to connect. Look for early talent recruiters to connect to.

37. Leonora Christaldi LimaSeptember 18,2025 at 10:25PM UTC

    Hello, please know you are not alone. I have been at the job hunting (basically a job within itself, as it were) for over 2 years now.. And, on Indeed.com, these companies frequently do not either keep in touch with messages or they are incredibly ignorant of what it means to be professional with responding. I have had multiple lost-in-limbo messages that go unanswered. I do want to point out that there was an article making mention about companies not really trying to hire.. but to give the appearance of doing so in the unknown agenda which was detailed as faking this action so as to exclude themselves from having to pay back funds they acquired from the post pandemic stimulus claims.. and I"m like ? wow, seriously? that seems to coincide with this type of situation. I wouldn't put it past these hiring dept heads being robotic and just making it 'seem' like they are looking to hire when in reality they are just staving off paying back any funds for business operations as 'victims' from the pandemic that they reaped enormous funds when they put in their claims. Outside of that, a lot of these job sites seem to do the same non-actionable responses.

38. Cal ThixtonSeptember 19,2025 at 8:18PM UTC

    Does anyone? Not for me and have been trying for 18mo. Suspecting it is mostly for show, but no actual hires. Linkedin should require confirmation of hires.

39. AnonymousOctober 9,2025 at 12:12PM UTC

    Nope