Yes, You Should Be Using The LinkedIn Easy Apply Feature.
Some of your favorite brands and dream companies all have pages on LinkedIn and often use it to recruit talent. In other words, if you're not using LinkedIn to find your next job opportunity - what are you waiting for sis?
Through LinkedIn's Easy Apply feature, you can literally apply for jobs within a minute or two.
No bs.
Here's how the LinkedIn Easy Apply feature works:
- Once you are logged into your LinkedIn account from the mobile app or your computer, click "Jobs" at the top of the page.
- Search for the job you want. After that, all of the jobs that match your search criteria will load. Any job that has the LinkedIn symbol with "Easy Apply" next to it are jobs with the Easy Apply feature.
- To make your life even easier, click "LinkedIn Features" that's at the top of the page after you search for your job, and filter for "Easy Apply".
- Fill in the details to apply for the job.
From there, your LinkedIn Easy Apply application is pretty straightforward. It'll typically just ask for your preferred email address, a place to enter a phone number, and an option to upload your resume.
#dassit
Occasionally the company will ask for a few extra things like a cover letter, work authorization information, and years of experience, but oftentimes, the Easy Appy process is very simple.
Because LinkedIn's Easy Apply feature is super easy, companies typically get A LOT of applicants.
However, before you let it discourage you, keep reading for a comprehensive list of things you can do to make sure your application stands out, and for things you should look for when using this feature.
Leave the selfies for IG.
GiphyThis should go without saying. Having a great photo speaks volumes, but having a bad photo (i.e. low resolution, using filters, posting selfies) could get you passed over.
Your photo should be high-resolution, professional, well-lit, and should reflect a positive image of you. When you apply for a job using Easy Apply, your photo is one of the first things that the recruiter will see so be sure to make your first impression, the best one.
Write a strong LinkedIn headline.
Your headline is one of the most important sections of your LinkedIn profile. Before employers see your resume or your complete profile, they have to select you from a long list of candidates. This candidate list includes the following information: your picture, name, location, and headline. Those four things are ALL employers have when deciding whether you're a good candidate or not (as you can see, first impressions are everything). If the employer sees that your headline doesn't line up with what they are looking for, you'll be passed over.
Related: Attract Job Recruiters On LinkedIn With These 4 Easy Steps
Align your location.
GiphyEnsure that your location aligns with where you're looking for jobs, not necessarily where you currently live or work. At times when employers are viewing your Easy Apply application, they'll look at your profile and may pass you over if your location that's listed doesn't align with the organization's needs.
Don’t slack on the Skills and Endorsements sections.
There is an option to "View critical match" for the employer and it shows the recruiter a breakdown of how well your profile aligns with the job description.
The "Skills" area above is made up of the keywords you entered into your Skills & Endorsements profile section, as well as words you used throughout your profile. When looking for the candidate that will be the best fit, recruiters will often use the "View critical match feature".
Use keywords everywhere - literally.
GiphyAs you are updating your profile, your text in your profile MUST include keywords that match the job description. Use variations of filter keywords in your profile summary and job descriptions (For example, if you're looking for a role as a social media manager, you would include things like "social media", "marketing", and "content strategy" as your keywords). Be sure to include technologies you have used in your list of skills as well.
Make sure your profile is 100% complete BEFORE you apply.
The first thing a recruiter will do after they receive your Easy Apply app is look at your LinkedIn profile. Before you start applying to jobs, you need to make sure your profile is good and accurate AF. In other words, your profile picture should be on point, and all of your jobs and relevant skills should be listed with keyword-rich descriptions.
Related: Don't Sleep On LinkedIn
Go ahead and customize your profile and resume.
GiphyIf the role you're applying for is different than your current skills and experience (even a little), you must craft your profile to show how you can be a good fit in the new role. Use the summary section to talk about how you are ready for more responsibilities, have been doing the work in another capacity, or how you are taking courses to bring your skills to meet the job requirements.
On the same note, including your resume is not mandatory for most Easy Apply jobs, but attaching a customized resume will help you stand out from the other Easy Apply applicants. Just like you would do with any other job you are applying to, you should ALWAYS customize your resume. It doesn't matter if you are applying for the job on the company's website, Indeed, or through LinkedIn, customization is key.
Don’t forget the cover letter.
If you really want to boss things up, you should include a customized cover letter for the job you are applying to.
Since Easy Apply only gives you the option to upload one attachment, include your cover letter in the same PDF file as your resume so that it's a single document to upload. Just make sure it's on a different page, but saved altogether in the PDF.
Be the follow up King (or Queen).
GiphyCompanies typically get hundreds of applicants per job posting so taking the extra steps to stand out and follow up with the recruiter is a must.
For some Easy Apply job postings, you can see who posted the job. If not, just do your research on LinkedIn, and I'm sure you can find the right person to contact.
Please note: Finding a contact on LinkedIn ain't hard y'all. If you can find your boyfriend's ex-girlfriend from 10 years ago profile on IG, you can use those same research skills to find the recruiter for the company.
After you apply, follow up with a nice, thoughtful email (or in-mail if you're using LinkedIn). Let them know that you have applied, share your elevator pitch, and include your contact information just in case they're ready to schedule your interview.
Tweet us and let us know how you like Easy Apply! Good luck on your job search!
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Featured image by Getty Images
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Brittani Hunter is a proud PVAMU alumni and the founder of The Mogul Millennial, a business and career platform for Black Millennials. Meet Brittani on Twitter and on the Gram at @BrittaniLHunter and @mogulmillennial.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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ItGirl In Motion: Paige Shari Addison Shows Us Why She's The Hostess With The Mostess
Paige Shari Addison is the epitome of an ItGirl, which is why she is one of 100 ladies on xoNecole's inaugural ItGirl 100 list in partnership with Hyundai. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Paige started her journey as a host in high school by hosting parties. Since then, she has made a career in hosting, from parties to big-name events, and she launched Strictly RNB, a platform for new artists and R&B lovers. Paige reflects on her creative path in the limited video series "ItGirl in Motion."
“My first curated event at Criminal Records was incredible. It was all for up-and-coming artists,” she says. “I needed a platform for us as a collective to be able to give ourselves the platform instead of asking for it, instead of looking for it. I was like, I want to make sure I let people get this experience that I would give as a performer but enjoy the experience with them. It was a dream come true.”
The Atlanta native also has her own line of acai bowls called Soulfull Bowls. She started it during the pandemic after events and parties shut down. But it was her love for eating acai bowls and the reactions others had to them that made her want to make it her next business move. Being open to creating new ventures in the midst of uncertainty is a bold move and one of the reasons why Paige has the “it” factor.
“Being an ItGirl means you’re just authentic. There’s an air to us. We have confidence that exudes from the way we speak, the way we put our lip gloss on, the way we walk, the way we talk. I show up as myself everytime I walk into a room. I’m hospitable, I make sure everybody’s good,” she says.
Get to know more about the hostess with the mostess in the video above.
See our ItGirl 100 list in full here. Click through the gallery below for some BTS moments of Paige and our partnership with Hyundai.
Director: Mikkoh @mikkoh
Production company: @polly___studio
Producer/AD: Samuel Cho @choboi90
Producer/Tech: Paul Nguyen @paul__winn
DP: Cristian Bernal @cristianbernal
Editor: @30inthemorning
2nd Cam: Paul Nguyen
1st AC: AJ Paug @ajpaug Gaffer: Dennis Albert @dennisalbert_
Audio Mixer: Victor Chavez @vic_the__
PA: Rick Carreno @ispeakrick
PA: Tiffany Do @tivani.doee
BTS Photo: Prime @theartofprime
Car Detail: @sud_studs @slugglobal
Creative Director @hellobosco
Team Lead @kevgumbo3000
Project Manager @zakk_jullot
Creative Producer @iamkingsheyla
Designers @miacolemxn @noelspiva
@xoNecole
Director, Integrated Marketing @_vang
Campaign Manager @kingchachiii
Talent Lead @kaylawalker
Feature image by Prime/ @theartof prime