How do I search for a job on LinkedIn by keyword?

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 750 million members worldwide. With so many professionals on the platform, LinkedIn has become one of the top places to search for and apply to jobs. One of the most effective ways to find relevant job opportunities on LinkedIn is by searching for keywords related to your skills, experience, and desired roles. Conducting a keyword search allows you to filter through listings and pinpoint openings that closely match your qualifications and career goals. In this article, we’ll walk through how to best utilize LinkedIn’s job search function by keyword to surface jobs tailored to you.

Activate Your LinkedIn Job Seeker Settings

Before diving into keyword searches, make sure your LinkedIn account is optimized for job hunting. Under the Jobs tab, select “Job Seeker Settings” and make sure the toggle for “Let recruiters know you’re open to opportunities” is turned on. This signals to recruiters that you’re actively looking.

You can also fill out your job preferences, including types of jobs, preferred locations, and settings like remote work. Adding in this information allows LinkedIn to better understand the opportunities you want to see. Make sure to also expand your location radius if you’re open to roles outside your immediate area.

Populate Your LinkedIn Profile

To attract opportunities that match your experience, you need a complete LinkedIn profile highlighting your background. Include all of your skills, past positions and accomplishments, education, certifications, and any other relevant details. Recruiters will be searching for candidates based on these profile elements, so a filled out profile ensures your visibility.

You can also add a profile photo and customize your LinkedIn URL to appear more professional. The more complete your profile, the better chance it has of appearing in recruiter searches and matching with the right openings.

Identify Relevant Keywords

Now it’s time to think through the main keywords that align with the types of jobs you want. These should be terms that describe:

• Your desired job titles, like “Project Manager” or “Data Analyst”
• Skills mentioned in job postings within your target field, like “SQL”, “CRM systems”, or “Financial Reporting”
• Software, tools, or platforms commonly used in your industry, like “Salesforce”, “Tableau”, or “AutoCAD”
• Certifications required for roles in your field, like “PMP Certification” or “Six Sigma Green Belt”
• Areas of expertise like “Social Media Marketing” or “Supply Chain Logistics”

Identify a list of 15-20 relevant keywords. You can start general with broad job titles and specialties and get more niche with specific skills. These keywords will drive your search results.

Use Boolean Search Operators

To get even more precise with your keyword search, use Boolean operators like AND, OR, NOT. For example:

Sales AND Strategy – Returns jobs with both “Sales” and “Strategy”

Engineer OR Developer – Returns jobs with either “Engineer” or “Developer”

Nurse NOT Practitioner – Returns nursing jobs excluding those for practitioners

Combining keywords with operators helps you zero in on the types of job functions and qualifications you either want to focus on or exclude from your search.

Put Keywords Into LinkedIn’s Job Search Bar

You’re now ready to go into LinkedIn and actively look for jobs. On LinkedIn’s Jobs homepage or Jobs tab, use the main search bar to enter in your targeted keywords. For example, you could search:

“Project Manager” Seattle

Social Media Manager AND Strategy

Digital Marketing NOT Sales

Sift through the results and apply to any promising openings. Try out different keyword combinations and Boolean operators to see what returns the best opportunities.

Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for Keywords

While searching for jobs, also consider optimizing your own LinkedIn profile with those same keywords. This helps ensure your profile is findable by recruiters searching those terms.

Incorporate important keywords within:

• Your LinkedIn headline
• The descriptions for your work experience
• The details of your skills and expertise

For example, if you’re a marketing professional, include keywords like “Digital Marketing”, “Social Media”, “SEO”, “SEM”, and specific channel names within your profile details.

Leverage LinkedIn’s Saved Job Search Feature

Along with actively searching keywords, leverage LinkedIn’s saved job search feature to have matching opportunities continually sent to you.

On the LinkedIn Jobs page, click “Create a job alert” next to the search bar. Enter in your target role type and keywords, set your location preferences, and determine how often you want to receive email notifications – daily, weekly, or monthly.

These saved alerts will automatically run keyword searches and deliver a list of relevant job openings to your inbox on an ongoing basis. It’s an effortless way to stay on top of the latest openings tailored specifically to you.

Optimize Your Profile for Applicant Tracking Systems

Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes and profiles for keywords and filter applicants. To get past these systems:

• Include the most critical keywords in your profile header or next to your name
• Repeat important keywords in your skills section
• Use acronyms and shorthand versions of keywords, like “PMP” vs “Project Management Professional”

Optimizing for both recruiters and ATS provides the best chance for your profile to be spotted.

Join Industry-Specific LinkedIn Groups

Participate in LinkedIn Groups centered around your profession or areas of expertise. When you engage in these niche communities it adds relevant keywords and topics to your profile. This allows your profile to surface when recruiters search those terms in Groups.

For example, join Groups like “Digital Marketing Professionals” or “Project Management”. Be an active participant by commenting, liking posts, and sharing resources.

Follow Target Companies

LinkedIn lets you follow specific companies to get notified when they post jobs. Identify target companies you want to work for and follow their Company Pages. Then visit their Career Pages where you can see all open positions in one place, get alerts when new jobs are posted, and filter by your best matching opportunities.

Conclusion

Using LinkedIn’s robust job search features tailored to your unique skills and interests ensures you’ll see the most relevant opportunities. Take the time to identify and incorporate the right keywords into both your job searches and your LinkedIn profile. Also leverage tools like saved searches and applicant tracking system optimization. With the right keywords and optimal profile setup, your next career move is right at your fingertips through LinkedIn.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best keywords to use when searching for jobs on LinkedIn?

Some of the best keywords to use include job titles you’re interested in, specific skills mentioned in job descriptions, certifications required for roles, software/tools used in your industry, and areas of specialization. Create a list of 15-20 hyper-targeted keywords.

How do you filter job searches by keyword on LinkedIn?

Use LinkedIn’s main job search bar to enter in targeted keywords, with or without location filters. You can also use Boolean operators like AND, OR, NOT to get more precise. Visit the jobs page and use filters like date posted, job type, company, and more.

How do you find jobs on LinkedIn that match your resume?

Upload your resume to LinkedIn so it can scan the content and match you with relevant jobs. Head to your Profile, scroll to Background, and under Resume click Add. You can then visit the Jobs page and toggle on “Matched with your skills” to see your best job matches.

Does LinkedIn notify recruiters when you view a job post?

Yes, when you look at a specific job post the employer receives an alert that you viewed the listing. This signals interest to recruiters. Appearing on their radar gives you a better chance of them reaching out or noticing your application.

How do you get your LinkedIn profile to show up in recruiter searches?

Optimizing your profile with relevant keywords helps ensure you show up for recruiters. Also complete your profile 100%, include an eye-catching headline, leverage keywords, highlight skills, and list all past experiences. Being an active LinkedIn user also boosts your visibility in recruiter searches.

Key Takeaways

• Activate your LinkedIn job seeker settings and build out your profile to attract roles that match your experience.
• Identify a list of 15-20 hyper-targeted keywords that align with your desired opportunities and qualifications.
• Use LinkedIn’s job search bar to search keywords and Boolean operators to filter results.
• Optimize your own profile with those same keywords to get found by recruiters.
• Leverage tools like saved searches, joining Groups, and following companies to find the best opportunities.

Table Comparing Boolean Operators