LinkedIn offers several options for employers to post and promote job listings on the platform. While LinkedIn does not automatically post jobs without direct input from the employer, there are some auto-posting features available.
Auto-Post From an ATS
One of the main ways employers can auto-post jobs to LinkedIn is through integration with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Many popular ATS platforms like Jobvite, iCIMS, and SmartRecruiters offer integrations with LinkedIn to automatically cross-post open roles.
Here’s how auto-posting from an ATS works:
- The employer configures the integration within their ATS platform.
- New job posts created in the ATS will automatically be published to LinkedIn as well.
- Any changes or updates made to the job posting in the ATS will sync to LinkedIn too.
Auto-posting from an ATS ensures job listings stay in sync across the ATS and LinkedIn without any manual work required.
Recurring Job Postings
LinkedIn also lets employers set up recurring job postings that re-post automatically on a schedule. This is useful for roles employers need to hire for on an ongoing basis.
To set up a recurring job posting:
- Create the initial job post within LinkedIn.
- Check the box to “Repeat this posting” under the Posting Duration section.
- Select how often and for how long you want the job to re-post.
With this setup, LinkedIn will automatically re-publish the job posting according to the defined schedule without the employer having to manually re-post each time.
Sponsored Jobs
LinkedIn’s Sponsored Jobs advertising option could also be considered a form of auto-posting. With Sponsored Jobs, listings are automatically shown more prominently in search results and members’ feeds.
Here’s how Sponsored Jobs work:
- The employer pays for a Sponsored Job credit pack.
- Eligible jobs are automatically boosted through ad units on LinkedIn.
- Targeting, budget, and duration settings can be configured.
Since Sponsored Jobs automatically amplify exposure without ongoing management, it provides a degree of “auto-posting” until ad spend is used up.
Third-Party Posting Tools
There are also many third-party tools and services that provide auto-posting capabilities to LinkedIn:
- Workable – Sync job listings from this ATS to LinkedIn.
- Hootsuite – Schedule and auto-post content including job posts.
- Buffer – Likewise, this social media tool supports auto-posting jobs.
- Zapier – Build custom workflows to auto-post LinkedIn jobs.
Tools like these make it easy to configure rules for auto-posting jobs from various sources or scheduling job listings to promotion at optimal times.
LinkedIn Recruiter
LinkedIn Recruiter, the platform’s enhanced recruitment tool, also includes some auto-posting capabilities:
- Jobs posted in Recruiter can be automatically posted to LinkedIn Jobs as well.
- Recruiter suggests relevant existing jobs to re-post based on your hiring needs.
- Jobs can be auto-renewed to re-post when expired.
So while Recruiter doesn’t automatically post without input, it does provide some automation to streamline job posting workflows for recruiters and employers.
Conclusion
In summary, while LinkedIn does not auto-post jobs entirely without user input, there are several options to enable a degree of automation:
Auto-Post Method | How It Works |
---|---|
ATS integration | New job posts automatically sync from ATS to LinkedIn |
Recurring listings | Individual jobs can be scheduled to re-post automatically |
Sponsored Jobs | Paid promotion automatically increases job visibility |
Third-party tools | Services like Zapier enable configuring auto-posting rules |
LinkedIn Recruiter | Provides some automation for renewing and re-posting jobs |
Setting up integrations, scheduling recurring posts, or using tools that support auto-posting can help streamline the job posting process and reduce manual efforts for employers and recruiters on LinkedIn.
Benefits of Auto-Posting Jobs on LinkedIn
There are several potential benefits to automating parts of the job posting process on LinkedIn:
- Saves time – Auto-posting removes the need to manually create and re-post listings.
- Increases efficiency – Jobs can be posted more quickly and easily at scale.
- Reduces effort – Automation handles repetitive posting tasks.
- Improves consistency – Jobs stay in sync across platforms.
- Enables optimization – Auto-posting can be scheduled at peak times.
Overall, auto-posting capabilities allow recruiters to focus their efforts on more strategic hiring initiatives instead of manual job promotion tasks.
Potential Drawbacks of Auto-Posting
There are some potential downsides to consider with automated job posting as well:
- Setup is required – Integrating with an ATS takes technical work.
- Less customization – Auto-posted jobs are less customizable.
- Duplication issues – Jobs may unintentionally post multiple times.
- Appearance of spam – Some auto-posting can look spammy.
- Paid features – Many automation tools have associated fees.
The right balance needs to be struck between automation and manual intervention to maximize benefits and minimize potential downsides.
Best Practices for Auto-Posting Jobs on LinkedIn
Follow these best practices when setting up automated job posting to LinkedIn:
- Select integration partners carefully – Ensure good platform reliability and support.
- Thoroughly test auto-posting – Confirm jobs are posting as expected before fully automated.
- Monitor posts – Periodically sample auto-posted jobs for quality.
- Customize when possible – Take advantage of options to customize recurring posts.
- Follow LinkedIn guidelines – Avoid anything that appears spammy or duplicate.
- Watch costs – Minimize unnecessary ad spend or fees where possible.
With thoughtful setup and monitoring, LinkedIn’s auto-posting features can be a powerful recruiting tool to maximize reach for open positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you schedule LinkedIn posts?
Yes, it is possible to schedule LinkedIn posts, including job postings. Platforms like Hootsuite and Buffer allow scheduling posts. The LinkedIn Recruiter tool also allows scheduling job posting and renewals. However, natively within LinkedIn itself, there is no publishing schedule or calendar – you can only post immediately.
Does auto posting on LinkedIn work?
Auto-posting on LinkedIn can work very well when set up properly. Connecting an ATS to automatically sync roles, scheduling recurring job posts, and using tools like Hootsuite to queue posts can all help streamline publishing jobs. The key is finding the right balance between automation and oversight to avoid issues.
Is it safe to auto post on LinkedIn?
Generally yes, auto-posting on LinkedIn is safe when done appropriately. Avoid potential red flags like duplicating the same posts, publishing too frequently, or auto-connecting with tons of members. As long as you auto-post quality content at reasonable intervals, it aligns with LinkedIn’s terms of service.
What are the limitations of LinkedIn’s API?
Some key limitations of LinkedIn’s API include:
- Rate limits – Requests per hour/day are restricted.
- Limited visibility – Not all member data or analytics available.
- No feed posting – The API cannot directly post to the LinkedIn feed.
- Cost – Higher-usage API plans come with fees.
- Changes – API endpoints may change over time.
So while powerful, the API does not offer full access to all LinkedIn data and services. Robust documentation is key to working within limitations.
How much does LinkedIn job posting cost?
LinkedIn job posting costs include:
- Basic Listing: Free
- Premium Career Listing: Starts at $199 per 30 days
- Sponsored Job: Price varies based on targeting and duration. Typically $50-$300 per day.
Volume discounts may be available. Premium listings and sponsored ads offer the most exposure but come with increased cost. A blend of options may be best based on hiring budget and needs.
Is there a free LinkedIn job posting service?
Yes, LinkedIn does offer free job posting capabilities, with some limitations:
- Basic listing – Free to directly post jobs on LinkedIn.
- Employee sharing – Employees can share listings for free as well.
- Recruiter Lite – Free version of Recruiter allows some job posting.
The tradeoff with free posting is less exposure and promotion capabilities. But for some basic hiring needs, free options can be sufficient.