LinkedIn premium provides users with additional features and benefits beyond the free version that can be highly useful when trying to find a new job. Some of the key ways LinkedIn premium can help with job searching include:
Expanded Search Options
With LinkedIn premium, you unlock the ability to use advanced filters and parameters when searching for jobs. This allows you to narrow your search results to more closely match your specific skills, experience, desired job titles, preferred locations, and other criteria.
For example, you can search for “product manager” jobs within 25 miles of your location. Or look for “remote” jobs that offer salaries above $100k. The expanded search gives you more control over the job postings you see.
See Full Candidate Profiles
When you view other people’s profiles with a premium account, you can see their full work experience, education, skills, recommendations and other details. This gives you a more complete picture of potential contacts and can help when researching companies and roles.
With the free version, you only see a summary version of someone’s profile. Premium unlocks everything so you can vet connections more thoroughly.
Contact People Outside Your Network
LinkedIn premium allows you to directly message and connect with professionals outside of your existing network. This enables you to reach out to and build relationships with recruiters, hiring managers and others at companies you want to work for.
Making connections with the right people is key to getting your foot in the door. Premium gives you the ability to expand your network more strategically.
See Who Viewed Your Profile
Ever wonder who has come across your profile when job searching? With LinkedIn premium, you can see up to 90 days worth of data on who has viewed your profile.
This visibility into how often you’re showing up in searches, who is checking you out, and at which companies can be insightful. It helps you gauge employer interest and refine your networking approach.
Apply with Profile Link
When you find a job you want to apply for, LinkedIn premium lets you submit your profile as your resume/application instead of manually uploading documents. This is faster and ensures employers see your most up-to-date profile.
Applying with your profile link takes just a few clicks. No need to reformat resumes and juggle multiple versions for each application.
Get Interview Preparation
To help prepare for job interviews, LinkedIn premium provides training videos and resources focused on interview skills, mock interview practice tools, and interview prep checklists.
Being ready for common interview questions and techniques can make a big difference in how well your interviews go. Taking advantage of these prep materials can help boost your confidence.
Career Consultations
For hands-on coaching, LinkedIn premium offers 30 minute career consultation sessions with a LinkedIn career expert. They can provide tips on your resume, job search process, networking approach, interview skills, salary negotiations and more.
Getting personalized advice from a professional career consultant can help you polish every aspect of your job hunt.
Salary Insights
LinkedIn premium shows salary range data for jobs and companies so you can benchmark pay for roles you are looking at. This gives you a competitive advantage when negotiating offers to ensure you get fair pay.
The salary insights also help you understand what is realistic to ask for based on your location, experience level and other factors.
Open and Response Tracking
When applying for jobs, it can be hard to keep track of what applications are pending and who has or hasn’t responded. LinkedIn premium displays the status of all your job applications and notifications when you get responses.
This helps you stay organized and follow up more efficiently at each stage of the hiring process. No more guessing if the company saw your application.
Recommended Jobs
LinkedIn uses your profile, activity and interests to automatically recommend relevant job postings that may be a good fit but are not in your immediate search results.
These recommended opportunities introduce you to new openings and companies you may not have come across otherwise. More potential jobs in your inbox.
InMail Messages
In addition to standard messages, LinkedIn premium offers InMail to contact anyone (even if they are not in your network). InMail often has higher response rates for connecting with the right people.
Being able to directly reach recruiters and hiring managers is extremely helpful. InMail gives you a tool to get your foot in the door at an organization.
Job Posting Insights
When viewing a job posting, premium shows you real-time data on how many applicants have applied and viewed the posting. You can also see how your profile compares (skills, experience) to other applicants.
These insights help you evaluate the competitiveness of a role and focus your efforts on postings that are a best fit and less popular.
Larger Inbox
LinkedIn premium offers a larger inbox capacity so you can message and connect with more people without bumping against limits. This enables more networking and outreach during your job search.
Running into inbox limits can disrupt conversations when job hunting. Premium keeps those conversations flowing.
Premium Badging
Profiles of LinkedIn premium subscribers are identified with a special badge. This signals to others that you are invested in leveraging LinkedIn for your career.
When networking and connecting with new people, the premium badge adds credibility. It looks professional.
Is the Cost of Premium Worth It?
The price of LinkedIn premium ranges from $30 – $60+ per month depending on your desired plan. Is the investment worth the expense?
For most active job seekers, the answer is yes. Considering the competitive job market, expanded networking capabilities, visibility and tools provided by premium, the costs pay for themselves many times over by helping you land your next job faster.
Even if you get a job 1-2 weeks quicker because of premium’s benefits, that likely covers the entire cost. And if it takes you several more weeks or months, the value is even greater – especially when factoring in earnings from starting the new job sooner.
What Plan Should I Choose?
LinkedIn offers premium packages tailored to job seekers and professionals:
- LinkedIn Career: Designed for job hunting with features to find jobs, prepare for interviews, connect with recruiters, showcase your skills and get salary insights.
- LinkedIn Premium Business: For establishing yourself as an industry professional with tools to build your network, advertise your skills and services, and generate leads.
For most people, LinkedIn Career is the best plan to maximize your job search. It provides the core features needed at a moderate price point. However, Premium Business can also be beneficial for opening up networking opportunities.
Tips for Getting the Most from Premium
Here are some tips to really capitalize on LinkedIn Premium for your job search:
- Set alerts for jobs matching your preferences so you get notified of new openings.
- Join relevant industry/career networking groups to connect with professionals in your field.
- Follow companies you are interested in working for to get insider views.
- Use advanced filters like experience level and date posted when searching jobs.
- Bookmark jobs you want to revisit or track application status.
- Use InMail sparingly for outreach – focus on personalized messages.
- Review your profile analytics to improve visibility.
- Leverage salary tools to negotiate better offers.
- Use interview prep materials to practice and gain confidence.
Conclusion
An investment in LinkedIn Premium can give you a meaningful competitive edge and advantage in finding your next great job opportunity. The expanded search options provide more control over the jobs you see. Additional profile and networking capabilities allow you to build connections directly with key hiring decision makers. And tools to prepare for interviews, evaluate offers and track applications help you put your best foot forward.
While not free, for most job seekers the costs are well worth it. The right job found even a little sooner will make back the expense many times over. So if you are conducting an active job search, strongly consider upgrading to LinkedIn Premium to unlock the full power of leveraging your network.