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Studio 52E Musings

Musing and a few moans about life, design, literature, fashion, art, and whatever else I fancy.

LinkedIn Job Search Strategy

Why Isn’t My Premium Subscription Showing the Best Jobs

I have spent more time on LinkedIn than ever before, and if you have too you might have noticed a huge discrepancy: the jobs you see while logged in (even with a paid Premium subscription) often look entirely different from those you find in an anonymous or incognito window.

The Business Model

The platform is not primarily designed to help the average user find a job. It’s a platform that monetizes both recruitment and advertising.

1. Talent Solutions 
Companies pay a lot for software (LinkedIn Recruiter) to source passive candidates.
2. Marketing Solutions
Companies pay for targeted ads that appear in your feed.
3. Premium Subscriptions
These are the smallest slice of the pie, primarily serving to give you advanced filters and insights into who is viewing your profile, rather than unlocking "exclusive" job listings. (Monthly is around $40.00)

Why Logged-In Searching Fails Me

It’s taken me a while (unfortunately) but I noticed there were many jobs that were perfect for me but didn’t show up in my feed or inbox until 2 -4 weeks later and by then hundreds or more has already applied. Even when using a specific search many jobs would not show up at all. LinkedIn stopped being a neutral index of job openings and acted more like a dating app.

The Echo Chamber Effect

My algorithm, like all algorithms are obsessed with personalization. Which is great for shopping but not so much when searching for jobs. LinkedIn will lock in to your profile, your past clicks, your employment history, and so on to predict what it thinks you should want. 

If you click on a job, scroll past it, or linger on a description, the platform logs that interaction. It often prioritizes jobs where the employer has paid for "promoted" placement over the jobs that are the best fit for your specific background.

How to Counter-Program the Algorithm

There are a few things you can do that might show you better search results.

Use Incognito/Anonymous Mode

Always keep an incognito window open to scan for jobs. When browsing anonymously, you view the raw, unfiltered data of the job market. What I do is log in via Chrome and search anonymously through Firefox.

Treat Your Profile as a Control Panel

Your profile is a magnet and should be filled with appropriate keywords. But if your headline and skill tags are too specific, you are effectively telling the algorithm to ignore everything else. BUT, you also need to write it for recruiters who are using search terms to find YOU! Experiment and update if you feel you’re not getting any movement.

Freshen Up Your LinkedIn Profile!

Every so often expand your profile keywords. This can force the system to expand its search parameters.

LinkedIn’s Not So Secret Agenda

LinkedIn tracks your engagement down to the millisecond. If you’ve been wondering why on earth LinkedIn added games to their site it is to keep you on the app to appease advertisers which is part of a longer term strategy to pivot to a news and media outlet. 

LinkedIn’s strategy is to get you to open the app every single day (like a newspaper) whether you’re looking for a job or not. LinkedIn’s revenue relies on selling ad space. They need you on the app doing anything including games and following the 3/2/1 rule.

Final Thoughts On LinkedIn + Job Searching

Call it what it is. LinkedIn is an attention-brokerage and data harvesting business. It monetizes your attention and data, first and foremost rather than helping you get hired. Just keep that in mind and try to use it to your best advantage.
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