LinkedIn vs Indeed – Which Is Better For Job Seekers?

The internet has revolutionized the process of job hunting, making it easier than ever to connect with potential employers.

More and more people are using online job-hunting tools and even employers have been known to focus their recruitment efforts online.

Job seekers have a variety of tools at their disposal when it comes to finding employment. Some popular options are LinkedIn and Indeed.

These tools can be very helpful when trying to find a job, but they are also very different. Both have their pros and cons, but which one is the better choice for job seekers?

In this article, we’ll explore the differences between these two platforms and help you decide which one is right for you.

What is LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is first and foremost a social networking site. It’s designed to help professionals connect with one another and grow their careers.

The platform has come a long way since its inception in 2002, and it is now one of the most popular job-hunting tools available.

The company was acquired by Microsoft in 2016 for a whopping $26.2 billion and has since then been integrated into the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity apps.

LinkedIn has now served more than 706 million members in over 200 countries and territories.

Although it has a job board, LinkedIn’s primary focus is still on networking and connecting with other professionals.

A LinkedIn user can find professional opportunities by:

• Applying to jobs directly on LinkedIn
• Requesting introductions from mutual connections
• Building relationships with recruiters and hiring managers
• Searching for companies and then connecting with employees
• Researching job openings via the “Jobs” tab

What is Indeed?

Indeed is a job search engine that collects job listings from all over the Internet and puts them in one place.

It was founded in 2004 to compete against the likes of Monster and CareerBuilder and is now one of the largest job boards in the world.

The site aggregates job postings from thousands of different websites, including job boards, staffing agencies, and company career pages.

In previous years, users could only see the jobs on Indeed, but when it came to applying, they would be redirected to the website of the employer.

However, in 2011, Indeed launched its own job application platform that allows users to apply for jobs directly on the site.

Indeed is available in more than 60 countries and 28 languages.

The company has more than 250 million unique visitors monthly and 1.5 million new job listings daily.

Users can search for jobs by keyword, location, and job title. Indeed also offers a resume-builder and employer branding products.

Other services include salary comparison, company reviews, and interview preparation.

How Does LinkedIn Work?

Despite the fact that LinkedIn is different from other social media sites, a lot of people still don’t understand how it works.

Primarily, LinkedIn is used as an online resume. It’s a place where you can list your skills and experience, as well as endorsements from others, in order to show potential employers what you have to offer.

In addition to acting as an online resume, LinkedIn can also be used to network with other professionals.

You can connect with people in your field, join groups related to your industry, and even follow companies that you’re interested in working for.

Many employers also use LinkedIn as a way to find potential candidates for open positions. So if you’re job-hunting, it’s important to have a complete and up-to-date profile.

To get started, you need to create a LinkedIn page.

You can include your work history, education, skills, and anything else you think would be relevant to potential employers. You can also add a profile photo and connect your LinkedIn page to your other social media accounts.

Once your page is created, you can start connecting with other professionals, companies, and groups. You can also start applying for jobs directly on LinkedIn.

Your connections can also be a valuable resource when you’re job-hunting.

If you’re considering a new career move, reach out to your connections and see if anyone can put you in touch with someone at the company you’re interested in. You can also ask for advice or recommendations related to your job search.

Also Read: Best LinkedIn Summary Template Examples

How Does Indeed Work?

Indeed is different from LinkedIn in that it’s primarily a job search engine. Employers can post open positions on Indeed, and job seekers can search for Opportunities that match their skills and experience.

One of the advantages of Indeed is that it includes jobs from a variety of sources.

In addition to postings from individual employers, Indeed also aggregates job listings from other job boards, newspapers, and even company career pages. This makes it a one-stop shop for many job seekers.

Hiring managers love Indeed because it’s an effective way to target active and passive job seekers. Posting a job on Indeed is free, and they only pay when they find the right candidate and choose to contact them.

This means that as a job seeker, you can create a free Indeed account and have full access to all of the job listings on the site. You can also set up job alerts so that you’ll be notified when new postings that match your criteria are added to the site.

Also Read: Best LinkedIn Sample Recommendation Examples

How to Apply for Jobs on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn has a cool feature – Easy Apply. To use this feature, find a job you’re interested in and click on the Easy Apply button.

You’ll be prompted to log in to your LinkedIn account (if you’re not already logged in) and then you can review the information that will be pre-populated in your application, including your name, current title and company, and profile photo. You can edit any of this information before submitting your application.

If you don’t have a current resume, LinkedIn will generate one for you based on the information in your profile. You can review and edit this resume before submitting your application.

Once you’re happy with your application, simply click Submit and your application will be sent off to the employer.

Applying for jobs on LinkedIn is a great way to use your existing profile to your advantage. If you have a well-written profile and solid work experience, you can easily apply for jobs with the click of a button – no need to upload a separate resume.

Check Out: Best LinkedIn InMail Template Examples 

How to Apply for Jobs on Indeed?

Indeed Apply is a feature that allows job seekers to apply to certain jobs on Indeed without having to leave the Indeed website. Indeed Apply is available for many jobs on Indeed, but not all.

Jobs that do not have the “Indeed Apply” button are not able to be applied for using this feature.

To apply for a job using Indeed Apply:

1. Find a job on Indeed that you would like to apply for.
2. Click on the “Indeed Apply” button.
3. Fill out the information that is requested, such as your name, email address, and resume.
4. Click “Submit Application.”

You will then be taken to a confirmation page where you can verify that your application has been submitted.

Once you have applied for a job using Indeed Apply, the employer will be able to view your information and resume.

The employer will then contact you if they would like to schedule an interview or discuss the next steps in the hiring process.

Applying for jobs on Indeed is a quick and easy way to get your resume in front of employers who are looking for candidates like you. Be sure to take advantage of the Indeed Apply feature when applying for jobs on Indeed.

In addition, it is advisable to post your resume on Indeed so that employers can find you when they are searching for candidates.

By posting your resume on Indeed, you will be able to take advantage of the many features that Indeed has to offer, such as the ability to receive job recommendations and apply for jobs using Indeed Apply.

If you do not want your current employer to run into your resume on Indeed, you can choose to hide your resume from public view.

Sometimes on Indeed, the button does not state “Apply directly”, so it would redirect you to the company’s website.

Depending on the company, you might not be able to apply unless you create an account on their website.

LinkedIn vs Indeed – Ease of use

LinkedIn

If you are looking for a job, LinkedIn should be one of your first ports of call. It is simple to set up and use, and there are millions of jobs advertised on the site.

You can also connect with potential employers and recruiters, which can give you a better chance of landing your dream job.

Social network users will feel at home on LinkedIn, as the interface is similar to other sites such as Facebook. In fact, some features are identical – for example, you can ‘like’ and comment on posts.

Recruiters also like LinkedIn because it makes their job easier. They can post vacancies and search for candidates using keywords, which means they can find the right person for the job quickly and easily.

Indeed

Indeed is straight to the point – it is a job search engine. You enter your desired job title or keyword and location, and it will bring up a list of relevant vacancies. You can then narrow down your search by salary, company size, or job type.

This makes it easy for job seekers to find the right role, and you can apply for jobs directly through the site.

There’s no learning curve with Indeed – you just search and apply. This makes it a good option for people who are new to job hunting or don’t have time to waste.

Verdict

When it comes to ease of use, Indeed has the upper hand. It is a simpler platform that is easier to navigate. LinkedIn can be more confusing and overwhelming, especially for users who are not familiar with social media platforms.

LinkedIn vs Indeed – Features

LinkedIn

LinkedIn has a variety of features that make it a popular choice for job seekers. Some of these features include:

Homepage Feed

The LinkedIn homepage feed is a great way to stay up-to-date on current events in your industry, as well as see what your connections are talking about.

It looks like a typical newsfeed, with posts from companies, groups, and individuals to that you are connected to.

You can also follow Hashtags to see what people are saying about topics that interest you.

Network

This feature lets you see how you are connected to the people in your LinkedIn network.

You can also use this feature to find new connections that may be helpful in your job search.

InMail

InMail is a feature that allows you to send messages to people outside of your LinkedIn network.

This can be a great way to reach out to potential employers or recruiters.

You can also use InMail to request informational interviews.

Jobs

The Jobs feature on LinkedIn lets you search for job openings that match your skills and experience.

You can also set up job alerts to be notified when new jobs that match your criteria are posted.

Recruiters

If you’re looking for a job, you can also use LinkedIn to connect with recruiters.

Recruiters can help you find job openings that match your skills and experience. They can also provide you with information about companies that are hiring.

Skills and Endorsement

The skills and endorsement feature on LinkedIn lets you showcase your skills to potential employers.

You can also use this feature to endorse the skills of your connections.

Employers will find this fit easier to identify good job candidates based on the skills that they have.

Groups

LinkedIn groups are a great way to connect with other professionals in your industry.

You can join groups related to your field, as well as those that are specific to your interests.

You can also use groups to find job openings and networking opportunities.

Indeed

On its part, Indeed offers a few features that LinkedIn doesn’t. For instance, it has a resume builder and cover letter tool which can help job seekers create professional-looking resumes and letters.

Another area where Indeed shines is its salary estimator tool. This is a great feature for job seekers who want to get an idea of what they should be paid for a particular position. LinkedIn, on the other hand, doesn’t have anything like this.

Other features include:

Email Job Alerts

You can set up Indeed to send you email alerts whenever new jobs that match your criteria are posted. LinkedIn, on the other hand, only allows you to set up job alerts if you’re a premium member.

Advanced Search Filters

Indeed offers more advanced search filters than LinkedIn. For instance, you can search for jobs by salary range, company size, and job type.

Mobile App

Indeed has a mobile app that makes it easy to search for jobs on the go. LinkedIn also has a mobile app.

Verdict

If you are looking at feature comparison, LinkedIn has a clear advantage.

In addition to its job board, It offers a more comprehensive view of a person’s professional profile and connections. You can also see who has viewed your profile, which can be useful for networking.

LinkedIn vs Indeed – Pricing

LinkedIn

LinkedIn has a basic membership that is free to use. However, if you want to upgrade to a premium membership, there are three different options:

• The first is the business membership, which costs $29.99 per month. This gives you access to LinkedIn’s job board and allows you to message recruiters directly.
• The second is the membership of the sales, which costs $59.99 per month. This gives you all of the features of the business membership, plus access to LinkedIn’s sales navigator tool.
• The third is the premium membership, which costs $79.99 per month. This gives you all of the features of the business and sales memberships, plus access to LinkedIn’s premium job board.

Indeed

Unlike LinkedIn, Indeed does not have a paid membership option. All users have access to the same features, regardless of whether they are free or paid members.

Verdict

Pricing is one area where LinkedIn and Indeed differ significantly. If you are looking for a free job-hunting tool, Indeed is the better option. However, if you are willing to pay for a premium membership, LinkedIn offers more features than Indeed.

Also Read: Best Gig Apps That Pay The Same Day

LinkedIn vs Indeed – Similarities and Differences

In a lot of ways, LinkedIn and Indeed are quite similar. They’re both online job-hunting tools that allow users to search for jobs, create a profile, and connect with potential employers.

However, there are some key differences between the two platforms that may make one better suited for your needs than the other.

One of the main differences between LinkedIn and Indeed is the way they display jobs. Indeed allows users to search for jobs by keyword, title, company, or location. LinkedIn, on the other hand, uses a more traditional job board format, with separate sections for new jobs, featured jobs, and recommended jobs.

LinkedIn is also better at helping users find jobs that are a good match for their skills and experience. Indeed’s search function is fairly basic, though it has advanced search features that allow users to filter results.

In what areas are they similar?

• Used for online job-hunting
• Allow users to search for jobs
• Create a profile
• Connect with potential employers

LinkedIn vs Indeed – Pros and Cons

LinkedIn Pros

• LinkedIn has a more professional user base than Indeed.
• LinkedIn offers more networking opportunities than Indeed.
• Indeed is available in more countries and languages than LinkedIn.
• Indeed has more job listings than LinkedIn.
• Indeed offers a resume builder and other employer branding products.

LinkedIn Cons

• LinkedIn can be expensive for users who want to upgrade their accounts.
• Because it’s focused on networking, LinkedIn may not be the best platform for job seekers who are shy or introverted.

Indeed Pros

• Indeed is free for both job seekers and employers.
• The site has a large selection of jobs from all over the world.
• You can search for jobs by keyword, location, and category.
• Indeed also offers salary information and reviews

Check Out: Best Strengths & Weaknesses For Job Interview

Indeed Cons

• Because it’s free, Indeed may attract more spam listings than other job sites.
• The site can be overwhelming because of the sheer number of job listings.
• It can be difficult to stand out as a candidate on Indeed because of the high volume of applications.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive platform with networking opportunities and tons of features geared towards job seekers, then LinkedIn is the better choice.

However, if you’re just looking for a simple job search platform, Indeed is a good option. It’s also worth considering that LinkedIn has both free and paid options for job seekers, while Indeed is free to use.