How to Apply for LinkedIn Jobs (Step-by-Step Guide)

So you’ve been scrolling LinkedIn, spotted a job that actually excites you, and now you’re wondering — how do I actually apply for this?

You’re not alone. LinkedIn has over 1 billion members, and every minute, someone is getting hired through the platform. In fact, LinkedIn reports that 6 people are hired every minute through its job board. That’s wild. And it means the competition is real — but so is the opportunity.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about applying for jobs on LinkedIn — from finding the right listings to hitting “Submit” with confidence. No fluff, just the steps.

How to Apply for LinkedIn Jobs

Find Jobs That Actually Match You

Before you apply for anything, you need to find the right listings. Here’s how to search smart:

Go to the Jobs tab at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. From there, you can search by job title, keyword, or company. Use the filters to narrow by location, experience level, job type (remote, hybrid, on-site), and date posted.

Pro tip: Set up a Job Alert. LinkedIn will email you new listings matching your search automatically. This is huge — 70% of jobs are filled within 10 days of being posted, so speed matters.

Don’t just search broadly. Be specific. “Sales Manager SaaS” will get you better results than “Sales Manager.”

Understand the Two Ways to Apply

LinkedIn applications come in two flavors: Easy Apply and Apply on Company Website.

Easy Apply means you can apply directly inside LinkedIn — no redirects, no new accounts. You’ll use your LinkedIn profile (and optionally upload a resume). It’s fast.

Apply on Company Website means LinkedIn sends you to the employer’s careers page. You’ll need to fill out their application form separately. Slightly more effort, but some companies only use this method.

How to Use Easy Apply (The Fast Way)

Easy Apply is LinkedIn’s one-click-ish application system. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Open a job listing and look for the blue “Easy Apply” button. If you see it — great, you’re on the fast track.

Step 2: A pop-up window opens. It’ll ask for basic info — your phone number, email, and sometimes a few quick questions.

Step 3: Upload your resume or use your LinkedIn profile as your resume. Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds on a resume, so make sure yours is clean and to the point.

Step 4: Some jobs include screening questions — answer them honestly. Getting disqualified later wastes everyone’s time.

Step 5: Review everything, then hit Submit Application.

That’s it. You’ll get a confirmation, and the application gets logged in your “Jobs Applied” tracker.

How to Apply via Company Website

Some jobs won’t have Easy Apply. That’s fine. Here’s how to handle it:

Step 1: Click “Apply” on the job listing. LinkedIn opens the company’s careers page in a new tab.

Step 2: Create an account on their system (or log in if you already have one) and fill out the form.

Step 3: Upload your resume and cover letter if required. Tailor both to the specific job — generic applications get ignored. Personalized cover letters increase your chances of getting an interview by 26%.

Step 4: Submit and note the confirmation number or email.

How to Track Your Applications

Here’s something most people ignore — and it costs them. 85% of jobs are filled through networking, and follow-up matters. You need to know where every application stands.

LinkedIn has a built-in tracker. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Go to the Jobs tab and click “My Jobs” in the left panel.

Step 2: You’ll see tabs — “Saved,” “Applied,” “In Progress,” and “Archived.”

Step 3: Under “Applied,” every Easy Apply job you submitted shows up with the date. You can also manually add jobs you applied to via company website.

Step 4: Set a reminder to follow up 5–7 days after applying. A simple LinkedIn message to the recruiter or hiring manager can make you stand out. Candidates who follow up are 3x more likely to get a response.

Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile Before You Apply

Here’s the truth — recruiters check your LinkedIn profile before they even open your resume. Over 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to vet candidates. So your profile needs to be on point.

A few quick wins:

Your headline should say what you do + who you help. Not just your job title. “Sales Professional helping SaaS companies grow revenue” beats “Account Executive” every time.

Your About section should be written like a human, not a robot. Two to three short paragraphs. What you do, what you’re good at, what you’re looking for.

A professional photo increases profile views by 21x and connection requests by 9x. It matters more than most people think.

Turn on “Open to Work” — either visible to everyone or just recruiters. It signals that you’re available and ready.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even smart people make these. Here’s what to skip:

Applying to everything — spray-and-pray doesn’t work. LinkedIn’s algorithm tracks engagement and low-quality applications can hurt your visibility. Be selective and strategic.

Leaving your profile incomplete — LinkedIn profiles with a photo, summary, and at least three experience entries are 40x more likely to receive opportunities. Don’t half-do it.

Not customizing your resume — if the job says “data-driven,” your resume should use that language. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) filter resumes by keyword. Beat the bot before you meet the human.

Ghosting after applying — follow up. One polite message, one time. That’s all it takes to be remembered.

Conclusion

Applying for jobs on LinkedIn doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The platform is built to make it easy — once you know how it works.

To recap: search smart using filters and job alerts, choose between Easy Apply and company website applications, track every application in “My Jobs,” and follow up. Oh, and fix your profile before anything else. That’s where the real first impression happens.

LinkedIn has 65+ million job listings posted each year. The right opportunity is out there. Now you have everything you need to go get it.

If you’re in sales or business development and want to go beyond job hunting — and actually build a pipeline of warm meetings through LinkedIn outbound — that’s exactly what SalesSo specializes in. We handle the targeting, campaign design, and scaling so you can focus on closing.