LinkedIn’s easy apply feature allows job seekers to quickly submit their profile for consideration for a role with just a few clicks. This saves time compared to manually uploading a resume and cover letter for each application. However, some job seekers wonder whether using easy apply makes their interest in a job too public. Here’s what you need to know about who can see your easy applications on LinkedIn.
What is LinkedIn Easy Apply?
LinkedIn’s easy apply feature was introduced in 2019 as a way to streamline the job application process on the platform. When you see a job posting with an “Easy Apply” button, you can click to submit your existing LinkedIn profile as your application. This means you don’t have to reformat your resume or write a separate cover letter for each job you apply to.
To use easy apply, you simply click the blue “Easy Apply” button on a job posting. This triggers a pop-up where you can look over the application and make any adjustments. When you’re ready, click “Submit application” and your profile will instantly be sent to the employer for consideration.
Easy apply aims to cut down on the effort required to submit applications and make it easier to apply to more jobs. For employers, it provides an efficient way to receive and review applications directly through LinkedIn.
Who can see you applied with easy apply?
When you use easy apply, your application is visible to the employer you applied to and LinkedIn. Here’s specifically who can see you used easy apply for a job:
- The employer you applied to can see your full application through LinkedIn Recruiter or Jobs.
- Your 1st degree LinkedIn connections (direct connections) cannot see that you applied.
- 2nd and 3rd degree connections also cannot see your easy job applications.
- Other LinkedIn members who you are not connected to will not see your easy applications.
- Anonymous viewers of your profile cannot see the jobs you’ve easy applied to.
So in summary, the only people who can see your easy applications are the hiring companies you submit to and LinkedIn itself. Your network and other LinkedIn members will not be aware of the jobs you’ve easy applied for.
Will connections see if you get an interview?
If you are contacted for an interview through an easy apply application, this will also not be visible to your LinkedIn network. Only you and the employer will be aware you are moving forward in the process. Some key points:
- Your connections will not get notifications or see any posts about you getting an interview.
- Even if you are connected to an employee at the company, they will not know you applied or got an interview unless they are directly involved in hiring for the role.
- No one will get alerts when the employer views your application or profile.
- Other applicants for the job will not see if you have gotten an interview slot.
Essentially, the easy apply process happens privately between you as the applicant and the employer. Even as you progress through the hiring process, this remains invisible to your network.
What appears on your profile after applying?
After submitting an easy application, nothing new will show up directly on your LinkedIn profile. Your easy apply activity remains behind the scenes. Here are a few things that remain private:
- The jobs you easy apply for are not listed publicly on your profile.
- Employers you’ve applied to are not shown.
- Moving forward in the interview process is not shown.
- When employers view your profile, visitors can’t see it.
You can always double check your profile to ensure nothing related to your job search is public. Easy apply is designed to keep your activity and job interests private from your network.
Are any notifications sent about easy apply?
No notifications are triggered when you use easy apply that would tip off your network. Specifically:
- Connections will not get notifications when you easy apply for jobs.
- The employer will silently receive your application without any public notice.
- You will not get notifications when the employer views your application.
- No one is notified when you get an interview through easy apply.
The main notifications you may get are confirmation when you submit an application and occasional reminders from LinkedIn to follow up on applications. But these are only visible to you privately in your account settings.
Is your photo visible to employers?
When you easy apply for a job, the employer can see your profile photo along with the rest of your LinkedIn profile. So make sure you have a professional headshot set as your profile picture if you plan to use easy apply. Key points on your photo:
- A current headshot should be used so employers can easily recognize you.
- Backgrounds should be neutral and non-distracting.
- Your photo will need to follow LinkedIn’s professionalism guidelines.
- Smiling, friendly photos generally make the best impression.
- Remember, your photo will be the first thing an employer sees!
Having a polished, approachable profile photo helps make a good first impression when you easy apply and gives employers a visual sense of who you are.
Is your full profile visible?
Yes, when you submit an easy application, employers can see your full LinkedIn profile just as it appears to your connections. Key things they will be able to see include:
- All of your current and past work experiences listed.
- Your full education history.
- Skills and expertise you have listed.
- Summary and experience descriptions.
- Awards, volunteer work, and other details.
- Recommendations you have received from others.
So it’s a good idea to make sure your profile is up-to-date and optimized before easy applying for any roles. Employers will evaluate if you seem like a fit based on your full profile.
Can you see who viewed your application?
LinkedIn does not show applicants who has viewed their application after submitting through easy apply. You can’t see when an employer views your profile or application. Key points:
- Employers remain anonymous when they look at your application.
- You will not be notified when they review your submitted profile.
- Any profile views are also not listed.
- There is no way to tell if the employer has opened or looked at your application.
The employer’s identity and their application review process is kept confidential through easy apply. You likely will not hear back from an employer unless they wish to move forward with your application in some way and contact you directly.
Is your current employment visible?
Your current job title and company details will be visible to employers when you submit an easy application. Important things to know:
- Your role, company, and employment dates will be listed.
- Make sure your current job is up-to-date if actively job searching.
- Some choose to omit current employment when applying elsewhere.
- Employment history remains visible even if current role is hidden.
Keep in mind that your full work history will be viewable even if you remove current employment. You can toggle individual jobs to not display, but past employers will still be evident.
Is your LinkedIn activity visible?
Any LinkedIn activity or engagement you do on the platform will not be shown to employers applying through easy apply. Things like:
- Group memberships are not displayed.
- Posts you like, share, or comment on remain private.
- Profile views you make are not listed.
- Employers can’t see who you’ve searched for.
Your LinkedIn activity stream and engagement on the platform will not factor into an easy apply employer’s evaluation. Only your core profile is shown.
Does an employer see your current salary?
Your current or past salary details are not made visible to employers when using easy apply. Salary specifics that remain private include:
- Current salary at your present role.
- Salary for previous positions held.
- Pay ranges for jobs you have listed.
- Any monetary bonuses, equity, or incentives.
- Cost of living adjustments or increases over time.
Employers are focused on your skills, experience, and background when reviewing applications. Specific compensation details are not disclosed during the easy apply submission process.
Can competitors see your application?
When you easy apply for a role, the application is only viewable by the employer you submitted to. Rival companies who may also be looking to hire will not see that you applied elsewhere. Key points:
- Competitors are not notified in any way of your application.
- Other employers will not know you applied or got an interview.
- Your application remains confidential from other companies.
- Even employees at competitors cannot see your application activity.
Easy apply keeps your job search discreet from other companies in the same industry. Only the employer you applied to can access your application materials and profile.
Do connections know if you get rejected?
If an employer rejects your application submitted through easy apply, this will not be communicated to your LinkedIn network in any way. Here’s what stays private if you get rejected:
- Your connections will not be notified you got rejected.
- Getting declined for a role will not post on your profile.
- Other applicants will not know if you got rejected.
- Even employees at the company will not necessarily know.
Rejection happens privately and discreetly through the easy apply process. Your network will not know if you get declined for any roles you applied to using easy apply.
Conclusion
Easy apply aims to make the job application process quick and straightforward for candidates while allowing companies to efficiently review applications at scale. A major benefit for job seekers is that easy apply keeps your application activity and job interests entirely private from your network.
The only parties that will be aware of the jobs you easy apply for and the progress in the hiring process are you as the applicant and the employers you submitted to. Your connections and other LinkedIn members will not be notified or see any indication that you have applied for roles or received interviews.
So you can use LinkedIn’s easy apply feature to discreetly send your profile to openings that interest you with minimal effort, all while keeping your job search confidential from your network until you wish to make it public.
