LinkedIn's Easy Apply feature is a popular tool for job seekers, enabling them to apply for jobs directly from the LinkedIn platform. While it may seem like a convenient way to apply for jobs quickly, Easy Apply is ineffective if your LinkedIn profile doesn't contain the right keywords.
In today's digital age, recruiters, hiring managers, job boards, and HR systems use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to search for qualified candidates and manage job applications. These systems use algorithms to scan resumes and LinkedIn profiles for keywords that match the job description. If your profile doesn't contain the right keywords, the system will overlook you or reject your application before it's even seen by a human. This means if you’re the best qualified and your profile doesn’t reflect that by matching your qualifications to the job ad, no one will ever see your profile if it’s dependent on ATS technology to find you and prioritize you and deliver your information to the recruiter or hiring manager.
So, how do you make sure your LinkedIn profile has the right keywords? First, carefully review the job description and note the keywords used to describe the required skills and qualifications. Then, make sure that your LinkedIn profile includes these same keywords in your summary, job titles, skills, and About section.
For example, if the job ad requires experience in project management, be sure to mention "project management" in your headline or profile summary and/or job titles. Also include related skills, such as "team leadership," "budget management," and "problem-solving," to strengthen your profile to increase the chances of being selected/prioritized/delivered to a human to review by the ATS.
Remember, your profile already needs to be well-written, engaging, have a branding headline, and relevant to the job you're applying for. Make sure your profile is up-to-date, clearly highlighting your skills, experience, and achievements in a concise and compelling manner. Stick to the facts and avoid fluffy/excess wordiness.
The Easy Apply feature on LinkedIn is an effective way to apply for jobs quickly and conveniently, but only if you’ve tended to your keyword garden first and added the job ad keywords into your LinkedIn profile (e.g., in the About section is always good under a heading of Areas of Expertise).
Bottom line: you can apply for all the LinkedIn Easy Apply jobs you want. If you don’t have matching keywords to match that job ad, you’ve wasted your time applying at all. It might be quick to apply, but, it’s like a novelist applying for a job as a rocket scientist. Don’t be surprised when there are no positive results for you and no one contacting you. Not tending to this one step results in someone else getting your dream job.