Whether you’re a hiring manager or a job seeker, odds are, you’ve heard about how useful Indeed and LinkedIn can be.
The only issue is that some people use them interchangeably during their job search. While they’re both vital tools in the professional field, they’re not the same.
How are they different? When should you use each one? That’s what we set out to find in this post with a thorough Indeed vs LinkedIn comparison.
Indeed vs LinkedIn: Overview
What is Indeed?
Indeed is a single-topic search engine focused on job postings with a resume database.
It was founded in 2004 as an independent subsidiary of Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. Currently, the company has headquarters in Texas and Connecticut.
Indeed claims to be the “number one job site in the world.” In fact, they have over 300 million visitors each month. In total, people have posted around 225 million resumes on the site!
What is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is a social media platform and lead-generation network. It’s owned by Microsoft and based in Sunnyvale, California.
However, instead of being a generalized platform, it’s employment-focused. Like any other social network, it connects people, but it does so for job seekers and employers specifically.
The company presents itself as “the world’s largest professional network.” That’s not a huge exaggeration, either. After all, the platform has over 857 million members!
Indeed vs LinkedIn: Head-to-Head Comparison
Now let’s discuss what each website offers users.
What Does Indeed Offer?
The range of services offered by Indeed is similar to ZipRecruiter. Both sites offer streamlined job-board interfaces.
That said, there are a few differences between Indeed and ZipRecruiter.
What Does Indeed Offer Job Searchers?
Free of charge, Indeed lets users search and apply for listings on its job board.
So, you can create an account and upload your resume. Then, filter the search results by title and location until you find a job opening that catches your eye. Then, when you click “Apply Now,” Indeed sends your resume to the recruiter.
You can also set up email job alerts for a specific keyword and location.
Aside from the job hunting features, Indeed offers some valuable career insights, including:
- Average salary ranges by location and required skills for each job title
- Reviews for companies (drug testing policies, dress codes, interviews, benefits, etc.)
- Skill certification
- Career guides (career development, resume help, market trends, etc.)
What Does Indeed Offer Companies?
Any company can post a job ad for free on Indeed. Alternatively, employers can choose to promote jobs from their own career sites.
Companies can also pay to “sponsor” a posting to reach more potential candidates and keep the post up longer. Sponsored listings seem to do much better than free ones—4.5 times better, to be specific.
The best part is that Indeed helps hiring managers handle applications. The nifty dashboard helps tackle job applicants from free and sponsored postings.
How Your Employer Dashboard Helps You Hire | Indeed SMB
Yet, some employers opt to use the Instant Match feature for sponsored jobs. It helps cut the hassle out of the filtration process and hire people faster.
What Does LinkedIn Offer?
Job seekers and organizations can settle for free LinkedIn accounts or upgrade to one of the premium subscriptions.
Although the “who viewed your profile” is a popular perk, a premium account offers more than that.
What Does LinkedIn Offer Job Searchers?
It’s possible to search for jobs on LinkedIn. Yet, the platform’s primary appeal is that it makes building connections easier.
For one, it helps people get in touch with colleagues, HR professionals, and business owners. All this can help job seekers put themselves out there.
If you have your eye on a specific role, you don’t even have to wait for the company to post an opening—not when recruiters can be reached on LinkedIn.
Plus, the platform offers courses and webinars to job seekers with premium accounts. That said, you don’t have to pay to get access to LinkedIn Learning. After all, there’s a selection of courses available for free.
What Does LinkedIn Offer Companies?
For companies, LinkedIn is a massive talent pool. Businesses can post listings and showcase the company culture to attract qualified candidates. That’s all possible with a free account.
Meanwhile, companies with premium Recruiter Lite plans can use integrated hiring, smart suggestions, and automated candidate tracking features.
That said, LinkedIn helps companies in aspects other than recruitment.
It also offers a range of B2B marketing solutions. For instance, the Sales Navigator Core plan helps companies and professionals gather leads.
How is Indeed Similar to LinkedIn?
For the casual job seeker, Indeed and LinkedIn are places to hunt for vacancies.
They both have a few aspects in common, including:
- Job search feature
- Resume builder/help guide
- Free access to some or all services on the site
- App versions of the site
How is Indeed Different Than LinkedIn?
The core concept behind both employment services is different.
Indeed is a job search engine, first and foremost. But, it offers additional services (like messaging and career tips) to boost the site’s potential in helping people with the end goal of quickly getting a job.
Meanwhile, LinkedIn is primarily a social network. Sure, it focuses on employment but shares the same aspects of a typical social media platform. These aspects include adding connections, messaging, and sharing career updates.
The LinkedIn job search feature is a supplemental feature for the network.
Yet another difference is how each company makes money.
Indeed’s revenues come from per-click payments for sponsored jobs and ads. Meanwhile, LinkedIn’s premium plans and enterprise solutions are the company’s main revenue streams.
Conclusion: Is Indeed or LinkedIn Better?
Indeed will work fine for your needs if you’re only looking for a new job. However, LinkedIn is the place to go for building and maintaining professional relationships. This approach makes it suitable if you’re playing the long game.
Even if you’re not actively looking for a job, you can use LinkedIn. That’s because the platform can help you reconnect with old colleagues and see what everyone is up to.
Companies typically need a presence on both sites. That’s because Indeed can replace a career site, while LinkedIn helps promote the brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Indeed Be Trusted?
Yes, Indeed is a reliable job search site with a transparent privacy policy.
You still have to watch out for potential scammers on the job board. Thankfully, Indeed has some handy tips to help you spot a fake posting from a genuine one.
Can LinkedIn Be Trusted?
Like Indeed, LinkedIn is highly credible. In fact, Forbes found it to be one of the safest social media platforms!
That said, it’s possible to find scams on LinkedIn with fake offers or get-rich-quick schemes. It all boils down to whether you know how to browse the platform safely.
Wrapping Up
At first glance, Indeed and LinkedIn seem similar. However, that’s not the case. One focuses on job search, while the other is all about professional networking.
Plus, Indeed is free for job seekers with a sponsorship system for employers. Meanwhile, LinkedIn offers free accounts and premium plans for users and businesses.
It’s okay to have a presence on both Indeed and LinkedIn. Yet, each will serve you differently, depending on your current employment needs.
If you have questions about using job boards, leave a comment below, and we’ll get back to you!
