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LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter are the leading platforms that employers and job seekers alike turn to for hiring and career opportunities. Both provide a diverse array of online and mobile tools for job posting and application. But which platform is the best fit for you? Your choice largely depends on whether you’re aiming to hire or seeking a new job opportunity. In this article, we delve into the functionalities of these two platforms to help you make an informed decision.
Job Seekers
Searching for
Employers
The era of relying solely on local newspaper ads to attract job seekers is long gone. While using recruiters is an option, it can be costly and doesn’t always yield the best results or candidates. Posting job opportunities online has become the most efficient and cost-effective method for employers to attract top talent.
ZipRecruiter for Employers
ZipRecruiter serves as an online employment hub, connecting job seekers with companies in need of talent. Companies list their openings on ZipRecruiter, which then syndicates these opportunities across more than a hundred popular job search platforms and social networks. This extensive reach provides a significant advantage for employers by exposing their vacancies to a vast pool of potential candidates. Job seekers who upload their resumes to ZipRecruiter are generally active in their search for new opportunities. The platform offers a variety of pricing plans to accommodate the diverse needs of employers.
ZipRecruiter for Job Seekers
Job seekers benefit from having access to one of the most powerful mobile job search tools with a job inventory from over 100,000 companies and millions of job opportunities. ZipRecruiter is free for job seekers and the onboarding process is very easy. You can leverage their smartphone apps or use ZipRecruiter from their site using your computer.
ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Process
- Upload
your resume (ZipRecruiter creates an online version ofyour resume) . - Keywords and skills from
your resume are posted as part of your profile. - You can either let employers find you (based on your profile) or just apply for jobs that meet your experience and requirements.
- ZipRecruiter creates a list of suggested opportunities based on
your resume and profile. - You can create and automate job alerts based on search activity, location matching, and salary matching.
- Minimize or maximize notifications from the notifications page with a wide range of options.
- See salaries from employers. Enter the job title or keyword along with the location and select search. You will see results displayed based on nationwide, and your location with commentary on average pay and pay ranges for that position. ZipRecruiter also displays job opportunities that match the title selection (on the same page).
- Save jobs that you may want to view at a later date.
- Keep track of the jobs that you’ve applied for by using their “Applied Jobs” link.
LinkedIn for Employers
Originally conceived as a social networking site for professionals, LinkedIn has evolved into a robust career platform with around 600 million global users. This extensive user base makes it an excellent resource for employers seeking qualified candidates. Users can create profiles to showcase their expertise, connect with other professionals, and leverage the network for career advancement and job opportunities.
LinkedIn allows employers to post job listings and to search for candidates whose skills and experience meet their needs. As with ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn has a number of options for employers depending on their needs and their budget. While ZipRecruiter’s job seeker population is primarily active in looking for new opportunities, LinkedIn members are both active and passive in terms of their job search.
LinkedIn for Job Seekers
You might be wondering why you would consider a professional networking site when all you want to do is find a job. According to a global survey conducted by LinkedIn, 61% of professionals from around the world agree that professional network interactions can open up career opportunities. Some suggest that 85% of open key positions are filled through networking (although not necessarily LinkedIn).
As with ZipRecruiter, creating a basic account on LinkedIn is free. Setting up a complete profile on LinkedIn is more time-consuming than ZipRecruiter and you will need to spend a bit more time to build out your profile.
Process
- Upload a professional-looking headshot. While this is not mandatory, it is recommended.
- Draft your headline – Make this part clear and concise because this is one of the first things that people will see when they look at your profile.
- List your skills– Use up all the 50 skills slots that LinkedIn allows. This helps you get easily found by recruiters.
- List your work experiences– Make sure you include both the role and greatest achievement within that role.
- Upload
your resume – Learn how to add a resume on LinkedIn so that it can be easily downloaded or viewed by interested recruiters and hiring managers viewing your profile. The easier they find what they need, the better. - Request recommendations from people in your network. Recommendations are important in the sense that they serve as visible proof that these people vouch for your abilities
- Start Applying for Jobs – Proactively search for jobs on the site and make sure to set job alerts so you do not miss new openings.
Conclusion
Both ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn have free options for job seekers. One major difference is that, jobs that are applied for on ZipRecruiter the ZipRecruiter platform. This makes the application process consistent.
Jobs applied for on LinkedIn are often on the target company’s site. This can be time-consuming as each employer’s site may have different formats and requirements.
Both ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn are excellent options for both job seekers and employers.
