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Two of the most popular job-hunting websites are Indeed and LinkedIn. Though it may seem as if they compete with one another, they really complement each other. Indeed is a pure job board, while LinkedIn is a professional networking site.
This review will focus on comparing Indeed and LinkedIn. If you find that neither Indeed nor LinkedIn are a good fit for you, we recommend trying ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter is free for job seekers and it is free for employers to get started.
Whether you’re an employer or a job seeker, it’s always best to use more than one resource to find what you’re looking for. That’s certainly the case with Indeed and LinkedIn. One will give you the ability to conduct a very broad search, while the other will enable you to drill down into jobs with very specific requirements.
Indeed
Indeed has the distinction of being the largest job board in the world. Participation includes 50 million listed employers and more than 700 million members. Indeed is available in 200 countries around the world, and has more monthly traffic than any other job board.
Indeed for an Employer
As an employer, it’s likely you’ll want to post open positions on Indeed to get the most potential job seekers to your ads. What makes it even easier is that there is no fee to post a basic job ad on Indeed. That combination makes Indeed a default choice for any employer looking to fill a job. For more free job posting sites, we rounded up the top free job posting sites for employers.
But let’s do the math – the biggest job board in the world + free job postings = a traffic jam of competition. Other employers are equally likely to advertise jobs on Indeed for all the same reasons you’ll want to. Put another way, you’ll have more than enough competition for the multitudes of job seekers on the platform.
If you want to stand out from the competition you’ll need to enhance your ads. Indeed has a strategy in place that will improve the visibility of your posts. They refer to this as “sponsored jobs”, which are much more likely to draw applicants to your ads.
There is a fee for sponsored jobs, which can be as little as $5 per day. But you can pay considerably more to fill a position quickly, or to draw the most qualified applicants.
You can supercharge your job posts by becoming a Featured Employer. It will enable you to brand your ads, by including your company logo and other information about your organization. In this way, you’ll increase your “employer brand”, giving jobseekers a closer look at your company. The more they know, the more likely they are to apply.
You can also use the Resume service, which will give you access to search millions of resumes. Filters can be used to narrow the resume search to specific criteria, identifying the candidates most likely to be a successful match for the job your advertising.
For more details, check out our Indeed Employer’s Guide.
Indeed for a Job Seeker
Indeed is free for job seekers. And since it’s the largest job board in the world, it will provide the largest number of potential employers for just about any position.
You can upload your resume to the platform, creating the potential for unsolicited job offers. Since employers have access to job seeker resumes, you may be contacted by an employer if you meet the qualifications for specific positions. That also holds the possibility of being contacted for a position that isn’t advertised.
In searching for a position, you’ll appreciate how easy it is to use Indeed. You can start the job search by entering the position you’re looking for and the geographic location you prefer.
From there, you can drill down even deeper. Indeed provides filters to help you narrow your search. You can add criteria like date posted, enter an acceptable distance from your home, salary estimate, job type, location, company, and experience level required. They’ll isolate the positions that you are a) qualified for, and b) meet your personal requirements and preferences.
To make the search even easier, you can sign up for email notifications to alert you to new positions that match the specifications you’ve entered.
For a more in-depth guide, check out our Indeed review.
LinkedIn is also a job board, but that’s only one of its features. It’s better described as a professional network, and the world’s largest at that. The networking angle comes from the fact that LinkedIn is also a social media platform. But unlike social media like Facebook and Twitter, it ultimately specializes in employment.
LinkedIn is available in more than 200 countries and territories and has more than 700 million members. Both companies and individuals build profiles on the platform, which enables them to connect with one another and with other members of LinkedIn.
LinkedIn for an Employer
For employers, LinkedIn offers an opportunity to both post jobs, and to connect with potential hires. Jobs can be posted free of charge, though there are premium services to enhance your candidate search. And if you prefer, LinkedIn offers a pay-per-click payment arrangement. In that way, you can purchase a certain number of candidate views for an amount that fits your budget.
Due to the social media and networking aspect, LinkedIn is a platform where you can build your employer brand. You can have a page dedicated to your company and provide as much information as you like.
This is important because candidates frequently do their own background check on employers, starting with their social media presence. The more a candidate knows about you, the more likely he or she will be to apply for employment.
Employers can use the LinkedIn Recruiter feature to reach out to qualified candidates through the LinkedIn InMail direct messaging tool. A tool called Job Slots can move your job postings to the top of the LinkedIn search results, and even provide personalized jobseeker emails to qualified candidates.
And since nearly everyone has a LinkedIn profile page now, the site gives you the ability to connect directly with qualified candidates. This holds the potential to fill a position without even advertising it.
LinkedIn for a Job Seeker
Jobseekers can search for positions on LinkedIn, but the social media nature of the platform is its biggest advantage. By creating a personal profile on the site, you’ll have a permanent presence in the employment world. It will give you an opportunity to connect with professionals in your field, display your talents, qualifications and accomplishments, and select the companies you want to work for.
In creating a winning profile, you can invite job offers from employers. Just as you will be able to add search criteria to isolate the people and employers you want to connect with, employers will be doing the same with candidates. If your profile fits with a position an employer is looking to fill, you may receive an unsolicited invitation to interview.
It’s a more passive approach to job hunting than what’s available with typical job boards. Even though you may not be searching for a new job right now, one may come across your path because an employer found you in a LinkedIn search.
The key for job seekers in using LinkedIn to maximum benefit is in creating your profile. This is similar to a Facebook profile, except greater emphasis will be on your professional capabilities.
You can add photos to your profile, as well as endorsements from other professionals. And since LinkedIn is a networking site, you can post regular updates, which will help you connect with relevant people in your field.
For a more in-depth guide, check out our LinkedIn review.
The Difference Between Indeed and LinkedIn As An Employer
Indeed is a true job board, offering a primary function of posting jobs, and searching resumes of qualified candidates. LinkedIn provides a similar service level, but adds the ability to network with potential candidates through their platform.
And where Indeed is a general-purpose job board, LinkedIn is a professional network, enabling employers to informally connect with qualified candidates. That creates the opportunity to identify qualified candidates without necessarily posting a position.
Both Indeed and LinkedIn offer job postings free of charge. But both also offer premium hosting services. Each offers pay-per-click, in which you choose the budget for a position.
| Indeed | |
|---|---|
| Pay per click | Pay per click |
| Starts at $0 | Starts at $0 |
| No limit – you choose the maximum you want to pay | No Limit – you choose the maximum you want to pay |
The Difference Between Indeed and Linked In As A Job Seeker
Indeed functions primarily as a general-purpose job board. From a job seeker standpoint, it’s an excellent platform to search for the largest number of jobs. Nearly any job available will be posted on the site.
LinkedIn is more highly specialized. You can search for jobs directly, though the number of positions will be much smaller than those available on Indeed. But LinkedIn tends to be much more highly specialized. Since it’s a social media platform attracting professionals, you’re more likely to find a very specific position.
LinkedIn’s primary advantage over Indeed (which has size in its favor), is networking. It’s the perfect site to conduct a backdoor job search from. You can connect with people in your field, including potential employers. And since your profile is permanent, it holds the potential to draw job offers, even when you’re not looking.
Bottom Line
Neither Indeed nor LinkedIn is the “better” job platform. Indeed is the better choice to find the greatest number of open positions, while LinkedIn is more likely to help you find specialized positions. LinkedIn also has the advantage of giving you a permanent profile on a popular professional network. With that profile you’ll hold yourself continuously open to new opportunities. If neither Indeed or LinkedIn are a good fit for you, we would recommend checking out ZipRecruiter.