Does anyone ever get hired from submitting their resume through LinkedIn?
Our favorite recruiter is back to answer all your most pressing questions about using LinkedIn to find a job.
Careers are deeply personal; most executive career advice isn’t. Crux is here to help.
Over the last few months, we’ve been getting more and more questions about the job market, recruiters, and, well, what the deal is with LinkedIn right now.
In the last edition, Emily De Silva of Cultivated Talent covered your questions about what’s going on in the job market. Today, she’s digging into more specific details — like what’s really happening behind the scenes when you see a role on LinkedIn (for months) and hit “Apply.”
Q: Does anyone ever get hired from submitting their resume through LinkedIn?
Even as far back as 2016, only the top 2% of online applicants receive an interview. So, while technically yes, people do get hired this way, the odds are wildly stacked against more than 90% of the people who apply. I recently had a client who received over 1500 applicants to a single job post! Think about how long it will take to sort through applicants just to find a few to interview.
Here’s a much better approach to using LinkedIn that could yield you actual results: Within any job description, the company is giving an outline of what they are looking for in a candidate. Think of this as your cheat sheet, and align your resume toward the job, including using a few of the same keywords. I tell candidates to think of their resume as the answer to what the job posting is searching for.
Often, the job post will list the person who posted it — reach out to that person to inquire more about the role. If no one is listed, try to find someone at the company (either HR, an internal recruiter, or the hiring manager) to get your resume in front of them before you click apply. Send this person a message directly on the platform, reference the job you saw posted, and ask who (if not them) the best person is to send your resume to. If you are qualified for the role, you will likely get a quicker response. As a recruiter, it makes my job much easier when qualified candidates reach out to me first.
Q: I've seen the same role allegedly "actively hiring" on LinkedIn for 6 months, but I've applied and heard nothing. What's happening behind the scenes?
A: There are many things that could be happening. It could be as simple as someone forgetting to take the posting down (I know) after the role has already been filled. Companies could also be looking to see what's on the market for a future hiring need, but not be ready to hire just yet. I've even seen it as a way to generate a “just in case” pipeline of talent — one study found that 50% of hiring managers do this.
There are so many factors behind job postings, so it’s not worth trying to guess why something is posted for any length of time. The best course of action is to use LinkedIn as a networking tool to find an actual person to get your resume in front of. Connecting with someone at the company will give you more insights into how viable the job is, why it’s been open, and what they are looking for in a candidate. You could also reference that you’ve noticed the job has been open for a while and ask about some of the challenges they’ve had trying to fill it. You may be the one they’ve been looking for all this time!
Q: How bad does it look to apply to similar jobs at the same company after you’re rejected for one?
I wouldn’t say it’s a bad look per say, but it may create confusion or be a potential red flag to the company. It’s better to reach out to someone at the company, start a dialogue on interest in working for them, and ask for feedback on the rejected application. You can also express interest in any future roles they may have coming.
Even if you haven’t been rejected, companies are often looking for a career maven versus a Jack or Jill of all trades, and applying to multiple jobs can put you in the latter category. If you aren’t sure what skills you bring to the table for a role, a company won’t either. Muddying the waters with multiple applications creates confusion, and the goal is to position yourself as a clear choice. Select the one you are the most qualified for to give yourself the best shot.
Meet the Coach of the Week: Emily De Silva of Cultivated Talent
In her own words:
Emily is an executive recruiter and former NCAA athlete who seamlessly blends her sporting tenacity with a wealth of experience in both staffing and executive search within the beauty industry. Recognized for her tailored and results-driven approach, Emily excels in building lasting relationships across candidates and clientele alike. With a passion for the art of the perfect match, she thrives on not only finding exceptional talent but also establishing successful partnerships that contribute to the long-term success of both individuals and organizations.
Crux Subscribers: Cultivated Talent offers a Candidate Concierge Service, including resume and LinkedIn reviews and job search strategy. Crux readers can reach out at hello@cultivatedtalent.com for a free consultation or 10% off any services.
Emily’s Go-to Resources
Friend of a Friend by David Burkus: A great book on the importance of networking
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown: Any of Brown’s books are great for leaning into your strengths and harnessing courage during tough times, but I highly encourage starting with this one. She also has a podcast by the same name
Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life by Susan David
Second Life podcast by Hillary Kerr
How I Built This podcast by Guy Raz
Masterclass: For building any leadership skills you need for your next role.
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