BuildSkills
Suggest a guide

LinkedIn

How do I use LinkedIn to find a job?

BuildSkills Editorial Team Practical guide 2 min read Updated 2026-10-07

Use the two job tools LinkedIn gives you

Open to Work: LinkedIn explains that when you state the jobs and locations you want, it helps your profile appear when recruiters search. You can show this to all members (which adds the #OpenToWork photo frame and includes people at your current company), to recruiters only, or keep it visible only to you. LinkedIn says it takes steps to hide this from recruiters at your current employer but cannot guarantee complete privacy, so choose carefully if you are employed.

Job alerts: after a job search, switch the job alert toggle on to be told about new postings that match, by email, app notification or both, daily or weekly. LinkedIn's help page says you can have up to 20 alerts at once (checked 7 October 2026).

A weekly job-search routine

Set three alerts: your exact target title, a nearby title, and the same title in a second city or remote. Each week, apply to the best matches the day they appear, and for each application change the first lines of your profile About and your message so they match the job description.

  • Keep a list of every application: company, role, date, and the person you contacted.
  • Follow the companies you apply to and comment usefully on their posts.
  • Ask one person a week for a short informational chat instead of a job.

Sources and further reading

Frequently asked questions

How do I use LinkedIn to find a job?

Make the profile match the role, turn on openness to recruiters if you want them, and apply with a note that mentions the actual job.

Does Easy Apply always work?

It is one path. A short note to the hiring team, when it is welcome, can explain fit better than a click with no context.

Should I connect with recruiters?

Yes when the note says why. A blank request is easy to ignore.

What if I have little experience?

Lead with projects, study, and skills you can demonstrate. Do not fake a title.

Are LinkedIn courses required?

No. They can teach a skill. The profile still needs proof you can do the work.

Is the job real?

Apply on the company's own site when you can. Be careful of roles that ask for money or for your identity documents in a chat.

Continue

Build your professional content