The LinkedIn Recruiter Won

As a software developer, the best way to get a raise isn’t by waiting for your annual performance review. It’s by applying for a new job. This has been the industry standard for years. In many sectors, raises rarely keep up with the cost of living, and recent inflation has only made this gap more glaring. Today, this dynamic is no longer limited to the tech industry; in nearly every field, the easiest way to secure a pay bump is to leverage an external job offer. Consequently, job boards are no longer primarily used by the unemployed. They’re increasingly a tool for career advancement.

Back in the early 2000s, job hunting was a straightforward process. If you wanted a job, you’d go to a company’s website, navigate to their careers page, and email your resume to the listed contact. To cast a wider net, platforms like Craigslist offered a space where employers posted openings and candidates responded directly. It wasn’t perfect, but it was simple.

Fast forward to today, and those company-provided email addresses have become black holes for spam, not legitimate job inquiries. The hiring process has become more convoluted, dominated by automated systems and job search engines.

I remember a friend once recommending me for a job at EA (Electronic Arts). While we were on the phone he asked me to send my resume immediately. I sent it through email. He didn’t receive it. I uploaded it through their job form. Nothing. Perplexed, my friend called their recruiter, who also tried to upload my resume into their system but failed. Somehow, my resume kept getting blocked by their automated system. The verdict? If my resume wasn’t in their system, I couldn’t be considered, even with an internal referral.

Experiences like this paved the way for job search engines like Monster.com, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter. These platforms promised to streamline the process for both employers and candidates. For employers, they offered sophisticated tools to manage the deluge of resumes. For job seekers, they provided a centralized hub to browse listings and apply with ease.

In theory, this sounds great. But ask any job seeker, and you’ll likely hear the same complaints: ghosted applications, no feedback, and endless frustration.

The problem lies in misaligned incentives. For employers, posting a job opening costs next to nothing. Even if they’re not actively hiring, there’s little reason to take down a listing. For job seekers, the stakes are much higher, especially in a skewed market. After applying to dozens or even hundreds of jobs with no response, many resort to applying to any opening they can find, whether they’re qualified or not.

This imbalance leads to a bloated ecosystem of job boards that don’t deliver on their promises. Every few months, a new independent job board emerges, claiming to revolutionize the job search process. These efforts are often well-intentioned but ultimately futile. Without direct relationships with employers, these platforms fail to gain traction. Within a year or two, they vanish.

I hate to admit it, but LinkedIn is now the most effective way to get a job. Unlike other job boards, on LinkedIn you can establish a relationship with recruiters, hiring managers, and industry professionals. It’s not just about submitting an application; you get to have a conversation.

You’ll still face ghosting, and not every recruiter message is genuine. But the odds of landing a job through LinkedIn are significantly higher than with any other method. Why? Because LinkedIn turns the hiring process into a relationship-driven experience, which is something traditional job boards can't or won’t replicate.

Automation and technology have streamlined some processes but introduced new barriers, like overly rigid applicant tracking systems and impersonal interactions.

The lesson here is clear: the tools we use to job hunt matter, but so does the way we use them. Whether it’s LinkedIn, a job board, or even an internal referral, the key is to prioritize relationships and make your job search as human as possible. In a world increasingly dominated by algorithms, that’s what will set you apart.

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