LinkedIn has become one of the top platforms for recruiting and job searching. With over 740 million members, posting a job on LinkedIn gives you access to the world’s largest professional network and an unparalleled ability to connect with qualified candidates.
But posting a job isn’t as simple as just throwing up a listing and waiting for applications to roll in. To attract great applicants and make the most of your LinkedIn job posting, you need to optimize your listing for visibility, target the right audience, streamline the application process, and manage candidates effectively.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the step-by-step process for how to post a job on LinkedIn. We’ll cover everything from creating an eye-catching job description to leveraging LinkedIn’s powerful targeting tools to get your listing in front of the right people.
By the end of this post, you’ll know how to create a killer job posting that attracts qualified candidates like a moth to a flame. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Step 1: Create a LinkedIn Company Page
Before posting a job, you need to have an established company presence on LinkedIn. This typically means having a LinkedIn Company Page that provides detailed information about your organization. Here’s how to create one:
- Go to linkedin.com/company-pages/ and click “Create a Company Page”.
- Choose to create a page from scratch or convert your existing LinkedIn profile.
- Add your company logo, description, website, and other key details.
- Fill out sections like Overview, Careers, Products & Services, and Life to showcase what your company does.
- Upload images, videos and other media that bring your page to life.
- Customize the URL for a cleaner link to share.
A complete Company Page serves as the hub for all your LinkedIn recruiting efforts. Make sure it accurately represents your employer brand to get the right candidates excited.
Also read: How to Create a LinkedIn Business Page in 2023: The Complete Guide
Step 2: Choose the Right Job Posting Type
LinkedIn offers several options when posting a job to fit different hiring needs:
Easy Apply Listing
This is LinkedIn’s standard job posting option. Easy Apply lets candidates submit their LinkedIn profile as an application with just one click.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Streamlined application process leads to more applicants. | Can attract more low-quality applicants. |
| Profile applications allow for easy screening. | Less customization and targeting options. |
Standard Job Posting
A traditional non-Easy Apply job posting. Candidates have to visit the job page and submit an application or résumé as specified.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| More customizable with detailed application requirements. | Manual application process deters some candidates. |
| Appears more professional for some roles. |
University Posting
Target students and recent graduates from specific universities.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reach and build talent pipelines from target schools. | Limited to entry-level type roles. |
Company Follower Job
Reach candidates who already follow your company with a special posting that only appears to followers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Get your job in front of engaged candidates who know your brand. | Smaller potential applicant pool. |
Evaluate the type of role, your hiring needs, and the type of candidates you want to target to choose the right posting option.
Step 3: Write an Attention-Grabbing Job Title
Just like writing a good headline, the title of your job posting needs to capture attention and get the right people curious enough to click.
👎 Boring job titles:
- Accountant
- HR Manager
- Web Developer
👍 Attention-grabbing job titles:
- Growth-Focused Accountant to Join Our Ambitious Startup
- People Ops Leader to Help Build Our Industry-Leading Culture
- Front-End Engineer to Join Our Mission of Changing Healthcare
Tips for writing great job titles:
- Keep it concise – under 60 characters is best to avoid getting cut off.
- Use power words – like “Leader”, “Expert”, “Master”, etc.
- Add company details – this helps provide context.
- Focus on the end result – what the role enables for your company.
- Highlight growth opportunities – this attracts ambitious candidates.
Spend time crafting the right job title – this is your first chance to capture the attention of great candidates.
Also read: LinkedIn Reaches 1 Billion Members, Unveils AI Job Search Tools
Step 4: Write a Job Description
After paying attention to the job title, the next step is writing a compelling job description to provide the details candidates need to determine if the role is a fit.
Follow these tips for writing Job Descriptions that convert:
Job Summary
Briefly summarize the role in 3-4 sentences at the top, like an intro paragraph. Include key details like position title, department, and what the role’s core purpose is.
Key Responsibilities
Use bullet points to break down the main responsibilities and duties of the role. Avoid listing every single task and focus on the 4-6 primary ones instead.
Qualifications
List the must-have skills, abilities, experience, and education required for this role. Only include the critical ones – you can dig into nice-to-haves later.
Company/Culture Details
Add some paragraphs to “sell” candidates on the company. Share details that make your culture and values stand out.
Benefits
Highlight key benefits like compensation, healthcare, retirement plans, vacation time and other perks. This attracts candidates and is transparent.
Call to Action
End with a call to action for applying to the role. Share links/details for how to apply simply and directly.
Use clear, concise language that is easy to skim. Break sections up visually with spacing, lines, italics, bold fonts, and heading sizes.
This helps make your job descriptions more readable and compelling.
Also read: 7 Latest LinkedIn Updates Coming In 2023
Step 5: Decide on an Application Method
LinkedIn offers flexibility based on how you want candidates to apply:
Easy Apply
Candidates click “Easy Apply” and submit their profile as an application. Simple and fast but less screening info.
LinkedIn Application Form
You create an application form with custom questions to screen candidates. More work upfront but gathers helpful info.
External Application Form
Send applicants to your own application form on company site. Additional control but adds steps to apply.
Weigh the pros and cons for your needs. Easy Apply yields more applicants but Application Forms allow for more prescreening.
Step 6: Promote Your Posted Job
Once all the details are complete, take one final pass to review everything and make sure there are no errors or missing info. Then click publish and post the job!
It will now be live on LinkedIn for your chosen duration and start accumulating applicants. Keep an eye on performance and response rate.
Step 7: Process Payment method
Step 8: Improve Your Job Post
LinkedIn Job Post Analytics
LinkedIn provides analytics on your job posts so you can see what’s working and optimize your strategy.
Key metrics to analyze:
- Impressions – How many times your post was shown
- Views – How often it was clicked on
- Applicants – How many people applied
- Sources – Where applications are coming from
- Conversions – Applicants as a % of impressions
Compare performance across different posts, time periods, targeting methods, and other variables.
Fine-tune aspects like your title, description, targeting, and promotion based on data-driven insights from your job post analytics.
Also read: How to Find Saved Posts on LinkedIn
Current LinkedIn Rate Limits
Here are the current rate limits to be aware of when posting jobs and interacting with prospects on LinkedIn:
- Job post creation: 10 per rolling 30 days
- Sending InMails: 100 per rolling 7 days
- Sending connection invites: 300 per rolling 90 days
- Searches on LinkedIn Recruiter: 120 per day, 3,000 per month
- Applying to jobs: Varies based on member engagement
Staying within these limits ensures your activity follows LinkedIn’s terms of service. Rate limits may be increased for premium Recruiter accounts.
Latest Job Posting News and Trends
Here are some current news items and trends related to posting jobs on LinkedIn in 2023:
- LinkedIn launched new Salary Insights tool providing pay range data
- Remote job postings on the rise on LinkedIn, up 90% in past year
- Companies enhancing diversity commitments in job posts
- Using more video in job posts improves candidate engagement
- Posting on weekends can boost job post visibility
- Record number of jobs being posted on LinkedIn in 2022
Job posting best practices are continually evolving. Stay up-to-date on relevant news and leverage the latest trends to maximize your recruitment strategy.
Also read: How to Make LinkedIn Private: The Ultimate Guide
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
Posting jobs directly on LinkedIn is a highly effective recruitment tactic, giving you access to over 740 million professionals.
The key takeaways are:
- Optimize job posts for relevance, branding, and appeal
- Promote openings through multiple channels
- Use built-in tools to organize and evaluate applicants
- Analyze metrics to refine your strategy
- Follow LinkedIn’s policies and rate limits
With the right approach, LinkedIn job posts can connect you to great talent quickly and cost-effectively. Applying the tips in this guide will help you tap into the power of LinkedIn recruiting.
