Is it better to use LinkedIn or indeed?

Both LinkedIn and Indeed are useful online job search platforms, but they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Determining which site is better depends on your specific needs and preferences as a job seeker.

Popularity

LinkedIn and Indeed are two of the most popular sites for online job searching. According to surveys, Indeed reached over 250 million unique visitors per month in 2021, making it the most visited job site globally. LinkedIn has around 740 million members, over 200 million of which use the platform for professional networking and job searching.

So in terms of sheer volume of users, Indeed comes out ahead. However, LinkedIn members tend to be more engaged, since it is a social network centered around career networking and development. Both sites have massive reach among employers and job seekers.

Job Listings

Indeed has the edge when it comes to the number of job postings available. Indeed claims to have over 247 million unique job listings. The site aggregates job postings from company career pages, other job boards, staffing agencies, and more.

LinkedIn has around 20 million active job listings. However, LinkedIn job listings tend to be more curated, coming directly from companies rather than aggregators. Listings on LinkedIn often include more detailed information on job qualifications and company culture.

So Indeed likely has more total job openings, especially from small and local employers. But LinkedIn may have more high-quality job listings from recognizable companies.

Searching and Filtering

Indeed offers robust searching and filtering of job listings. You can search keywords, job titles, companies, locations, salary ranges, date posted, and more. Searches can be saved for notifications of new postings. Job hunters can dig deeply into results to find openings matching their criteria.

LinkedIn has search functions, but they are more basic. You can filter by keyword, location, date posted, company, and job type. But you have less ability to drill down into specifics like salary range or job level. LinkedIn’s search works better for browsing opportunities rather than hunting for a specific type of job.

Indeed is likely the better choice for targeted, criteria-based job searching. LinkedIn may be preferred for open-ended exploration of what jobs are out there.

Networking and Connections

LinkedIn was built as a professional networking platform, so networking and connections are where it really shines compared to Indeed. Your LinkedIn network and Feed provide inside access to opportunities and information about companies hiring. You can also directly message connections who work at companies you are interested in.

Indeed has minimal networking capabilities. You can follow companies to see new job postings from them, but you can’t connect with other individuals. If you want to leverage your professional network in your job search, LinkedIn is clearly superior to Indeed in this regard.

Profiles and Resumes

Both sites allow you to create a rich professional profile and resume to showcase yourself to potential employers. LinkedIn profiles have more flexibility and customization options. You can highlight career achievements, gain endorsements and recommendations, publish articles, join groups, and more.

Indeed also allows resume posting and profile creation. But Indeed profiles are more bare-bones – you can’t build them out to the same extent. If you want to create a robust professional presence online, LinkedIn has greater capabilities. Though Indeed profiles still give employers insight into your background.

Job Applications

Applying for jobs is straightforward on both platforms. You can quickly submit your LinkedIn profile or resume when applying on LinkedIn. The integration makes it easy to share relevant information with employers.

Indeed also lets you use your Indeed resume to apply. You can also create customized cover letters to include. While not as seamless as LinkedIn, Indeed still allows fast and efficient job applications.

When it comes to job applications, the platforms are similar. The main difference is LinkedIn gives you the option to message connections inside a company to get your foot in the door. Overall ease of use is comparable.

Job Alerts

Indeed has very customizable job alerts – you can get email notifications whenever new jobs matching your searches are posted. You can tailor frequency, location, keywords, and more. Indeed alerts are great for staying on top of new opportunities.

LinkedIn allows saving job searches, but you have to manually check back for new listings. You can get notifications from followed companies when they post openings. But LinkedIn lacks Indeed’s robust and automated alert capabilities. For tailored, convenient job notifications, Indeed is the better choice.

Salary Information

Indeed provides more salary data than LinkedIn – many job postings include salary ranges, and you can research average salaries for given locations and titles. LinkedIn salary information is more limited, though premium accounts get some access to crowd-sourced salary data.

If assessing pay and compensation is a priority in your job search, Indeed usually offers more salary statistics to inform negotiations and assessments of job offers. You’ll have a better sense of pay norms and ranges through Indeed.

Features for Employers

Both sites offer paid packages for employers recruiting candidates. Indeed has options like sponsored job postings and premium branding profiles. LinkedIn lets employers pay to post openings, search resumes, and contact passive candidates open to new opportunities.

In terms of employers and recruiting, the platforms have similar capabilities. But Indeed tends to be used by a wider range of companies, while bigger companies gravitate toward LinkedIn for branding. Small businesses may favor Indeed for simplicity and affordability.

Costs for Job Seekers

Indeed is free for job seekers – you can search postings, set up alerts, and apply to jobs at no cost. LinkedIn offers free browsing and applying, but premium accounts provide added features. LinkedIn Premium ranges from $30-$90 per month for services like expanded search filters and profile highlights.

So Indeed is better in terms of avoiding subscription fees as a job candidate. But LinkedIn provides options like Premium for those who want access to more data and exposure for their profile in searches. The free tiers are still robust on both sites.

User Experience

In terms of interface and ease of use, both Indeed and LinkedIn are relatively clean and intuitive platforms. Indeed puts job postings front and center, with lots of filters and criteria options on the side. LinkedIn profiles and activity feeds occupy more screen real estate.

Some find LinkedIn’s mix of social media activity and job postings distracting or cluttered. Indeed’s focus is strictly job searching, so the experience feels more streamlined. Navigation and menus are straightforward on both sites.

Employer Reviews and Reputation

Indeed has more employer reviews and ratings provided by current and past employees. These anonymous reviews give helpful insights on company culture, management, pay, benefits, and more. LinkedIn has minimal employer review capabilities.

So Indeed is better for researching companies and seeing their reputations. Employee perspectives can inform whether a company is a good fit and if claims about culture ring true. LinkedIn lacks public company reviews from employees.

Conclusion

Overall, here are some key takeaways when comparing the two platforms:

• LinkedIn is better for leveraging networks and connections during job searches.
• Indeed has superior job listing quantity and searching/filtering capabilities.
• LinkedIn provides more robust user profiles and personal branding features.
• Indeed is better for getting automated job alerts sent to your inbox.
• Indeed offers more salary data to inform negotiations.
• LinkedIn provides paid Premium accounts with added features.
• Indeed has more employee reviews for assessing company culture and reputation.

The “best” platform depends on your priorities as a job seeker. If networking and profile building are key, LinkedIn may have the edge. If finding openings matching specific criteria is critical, Indeed excels there. Often utilizing both sites is wise to maximize visibility and uncover more opportunities. Focus your efforts where each platform has relative strengths to find the right fit.

Table Comparing Key Features

Pros and Cons Comparison

LinkedIn Pros

• Leverage professional connections and network
• Showcase your background in richer profile
• Direct contact with recruiters and hiring managers
• Premium features for enhanced search and visibility (for fee)

LinkedIn Cons

• Fewer job listings than Indeed
• Basic search filters and alerts
• Minimal salary data available
• Job feed can get cluttered

Indeed Pros

• Highest number of job listings
• Powerful customized searches and alerts
• Abundant salary information
• Free for job seekers

Indeed Cons

• Less ability to connect with recruiters and hiring managers
• Less robust user profiles
• Less curated job listings
• No premium features offered (all free)

Use Case Examples

Here are examples of situations where one platform may be preferable over the other:

LinkedIn works better when…

• You already have an extensive professional network established
• You want to discover opportunities through connections
• You are looking for a job in management, leadership, etc. where networking is key
• You want to build a personal brand and be found by recruiters
• You want access to premium features like profile promotions

Indeed works better when…

• You want maximum exposure to all available job listings in your area
• You are searching for a specific, tailored opportunity
• You want automated alerts so no relevant jobs slip through the cracks
• You are assessing companies and want employee reviews
• You want to research typical pay ranges for positions

The ideal scenario may be using both Indeed and LinkedIn as complementary platforms in your job search for the most comprehensive experience. But focus your energies where each site shines based on your particular needs and situation. Do your research on employers, tap your networks, create alerts, and put your best professional image forward across the web. With persistence and the right tools, you can land the perfect job.