Direct company applications often get better results than job board Easy Apply, but the best strategy is multi-channel: apply on company websites for priority roles, use job boards for discovery and volume, and always try for referrals. LinkedIn Easy Apply is convenient but competitive; Indeed aggregates widely but has more noise. Neither is "best"—understanding when to use each matters.
- Response rate data by application source
- LinkedIn: pros, cons, and the Easy Apply reality
- Indeed: is it worth your time?
- The hidden advantage of direct company applications
- The 'ghost job' problem on job boards
- An optimal multi-channel application strategy
Quick Answers
Is it better to apply on job boards or company websites?
Company websites are often better for submission integrity, but job boards are great for discovery. A strong approach is to find on boards, then apply on the company site when possible.
Do job board applications get ignored?
Not always, but duplicates and stale reposts are common. The key is applying fast, verifying the role is real/open, and avoiding low-signal spam.
When should I prefer a job board?
Use boards when you need discovery, alerts, and filters. They're especially useful early in the search when you're mapping the market.
How do I avoid wasting time on fake or stale listings?
Cross-check the posting on the company site, look for recent activity, and prioritize roles with clear requirements and an active hiring team signal (recruiter contact, recent repost, etc.).
"Should I apply on LinkedIn or the company website?" is one of the most common job search questions. The answer isn't simple—but understanding the trade-offs helps you allocate your effort wisely.
The job board landscape in 2026
Before diving into specific platforms, here's the reality of how jobs get filled:
The uncomfortable truth: most jobs are filled before they're posted or through channels that favor internal referrals. But that doesn't mean online applications are worthless—they're just one piece of a multi-channel strategy.
LinkedIn: The networking platform that became a job board
LinkedIn has evolved from a networking site to one of the largest job platforms. But its effectiveness depends on how you use it.
Pros
- Massive reach: Millions of job listings across industries
- Recruiter visibility: Active profiles get found by recruiters
- Easy Apply: One-click applications with your profile
- Networking integration: Can see connections at companies
- Company research: Reviews, company pages, employee insights
Cons
- High competition: Easy Apply means everyone applies
- Signal-to-noise: Lots of irrelevant suggestions
- Pay-to-play elements: Premium features behind paywall
- Algorithm-driven: Not all postings are actively promoted
The Easy Apply reality
LinkedIn Easy Apply is frictionless—which means you're competing with everyone else who clicked that button. Roles that allow Easy Apply often receive 2-3x more applications than those requiring direct submission.
| Factor | Easy Apply |
|---|---|
| Time per application | 1-2 minutes |
| Competition level | Very high |
| Customization | Limited |
| Recruiter impression | Mixed |
| Best for | Volume, discovery |
LinkedIn strategy tips
Use Easy Apply for discovery and volume
It's fine for roles you're interested in but not deeply committed to. Apply quickly, move on.
For priority roles, also apply directly
If you really want the job, apply through the company website AND reach out to someone at the company. Don't rely solely on Easy Apply.
Optimize your profile
Even if you're applying elsewhere, recruiters may look you up on LinkedIn. Complete profile, professional photo, clear headline.
Indeed: The aggregator giant
Indeed is the largest job search engine, aggregating listings from company websites, job boards, and direct posts. It's like Google for jobs.
Pros
- Massive volume: More listings than any single platform
- Aggregation: Pulls from many sources
- Good filtering: Search by salary, date posted, experience level
- Company reviews: Integrated Glassdoor-like reviews
- Free for job seekers
Cons
- More noise: Duplicate postings, outdated listings
- Less curation: Quality control is lower
- "Ghost jobs": Higher percentage of inactive postings
- Easy Apply competition: Same dynamic as LinkedIn
Is Indeed worth it?
Yes, but with caveats. Indeed works best for:
- Discovering roles you might not find elsewhere
- Researching companies and salary ranges
- Entry-level and mid-level roles
- Non-tech industries where LinkedIn is less dominant
Indeed's main value isn't applying directly through the platform—it's discovering jobs that you then apply to on company websites.
Indeed strategy tips
Use Indeed for discovery
Search for roles, then apply on the company website directly when possible.
Filter aggressively
Use date posted (last 24 hours or last 3 days), salary range, and experience level filters. Old postings are less likely to be active.
Ignore obvious duplicates
The same role may appear multiple times through different aggregation sources. Apply once, directly.
Direct company applications: The hidden advantage
Many job seekers overlook the simplest option: going directly to company career pages.
Why direct often works better
Many recruiters prefer candidates who apply directly because: - It shows genuine interest (you sought out the company) - You can submit tailored materials - No middleman or platform fees for the company - Better tracking in their internal ATS
Pros
- Less competition: Fewer applicants than Easy Apply
- Full customization: Submit exactly what you want
- Better perception: Shows intentionality
- Direct relationship: Your application goes straight to the company
Cons
- More time per application: Can take 20-40 minutes each
- Discovery challenge: Have to find openings yourself
- Variable ATS: Some company systems are clunky
Direct application strategy
Build a target company list
Create a list of 20-50 companies you'd genuinely want to work for. Research each one's career page and typical hiring timeline.
Set up alerts
Many company career pages let you set email alerts for specific role types or locations.
Apply early
Check your target companies weekly and apply within days of new postings. Early applications get more attention.
Response rate data by application source
While individual results vary, here's what the data suggests:
| Source | Response Rate |
|---|---|
| Referral | 30-50%+ |
| Direct application (company site) | 10-20% |
| LinkedIn (non-Easy Apply) | 10-15% |
| LinkedIn Easy Apply | 5-10% |
| Indeed | 5-10% |
| Mass applications (no customization) | 1-5% |
Notice how referrals dramatically outperform all online application methods. This is why networking should be a significant part of your strategy, not just an afterthought.
The "ghost job" problem
Not every posted job is real. Ghost jobs are listings that:
- Have already been filled but remain posted
- Were posted for compliance/legal reasons with an internal candidate selected
- Are being used to build a talent pipeline with no immediate hire
- Were abandoned but never removed
How to identify ghost jobs
- Posted for 30+ days (many real jobs fill faster)
- Vague job description with generic requirements
- Company has multiple identical postings
- No response after 2+ weeks (not definitive but suggestive)
- Role seems too good to be true for the level
How to mitigate
- Prioritize recently posted jobs (last 7 days)
- Apply to multiple roles, don't put all eggs in one basket
- Don't spend hours on applications that may be ghosts
- Network to learn about real openings before they're posted
The optimal multi-channel strategy
Don't choose one platform—use all of them strategically.
Tier 1: Referrals (highest priority)
For every role you really want, try to find a connection at the company who can refer you. Even a weak connection (second-degree LinkedIn contact) can help.
Tier 2: Direct company applications
For your target company list, apply directly on company career pages. Set alerts, check weekly, apply fast when new roles appear.
Tier 3: LinkedIn (strategic use)
- Use for discovery and networking
- Easy Apply for volume applications you're not deeply invested in
- Full application for priority roles (combine with direct application)
Tier 4: Indeed and other aggregators
- Use for discovery, especially outside tech
- Apply directly to company websites when possible
- Filter for recent postings
- Don't rely on Indeed alone
Aim to spend roughly: - 60% of effort on networking and referrals - 30% on targeted applications (direct + LinkedIn) - 10% on volume/discovery applications
Platform-specific tips
LinkedIn optimization
- Complete your profile (100% completion gets more views)
- Use a clear headline: "Role Title | Industry | Key Skill"
- Turn on "Open to Work" (visible to recruiters only is fine)
- Engage with content in your field (increases visibility)
- Connect with recruiters at target companies
Indeed optimization
- Set up multiple job alerts with different keyword combinations
- Use "Find Salaries" to research before applying
- Read company reviews but take with grain of salt
- Check the "Company" tab to see all their openings at once
Direct application optimization
- Save company career pages as bookmarks
- Set calendar reminders to check weekly
- Create an account on each major target company's ATS
- Pre-save resume in their preferred format
When aggregation tools help
Checking 10+ sources daily is time-consuming. Aggregation tools can help by:
- Pulling listings from multiple platforms into one dashboard
- Alerting you to new postings matching your criteria
- Tracking where you've applied and follow-up dates
- Reducing duplicate effort
Tools like Careery aggregate jobs from multiple sources and can help you apply across platforms efficiently. The goal is covering more ground without burning more time—especially important when you're also investing in networking and interview prep.
Where to apply: The strategy
- 1Referrals have the best response rates—prioritize networking
- 2Direct company applications outperform job board Easy Apply
- 3LinkedIn works best for networking + discovery; Easy Apply has high competition
- 4Indeed is useful for discovery but apply directly when possible
- 5Ghost jobs are real—prioritize recent postings and don't over-invest
- 6Use a multi-channel approach: 60% networking, 30% targeted, 10% volume
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I apply on both LinkedIn and the company website?
For roles you really want, yes. Apply directly on the company site AND make sure your LinkedIn application went through. Some companies merge duplicates; others track them separately. The extra 10 minutes is worth it for priority roles.
Is LinkedIn Easy Apply worth using at all?
Yes, for volume applications where you're interested but not deeply invested. It's fast and low-effort. Just don't rely on it exclusively—for priority roles, do more.
Are the jobs on Indeed even real?
Most are real, but Indeed has a higher percentage of ghost jobs and outdated listings than direct company postings. Filter by 'date posted' (last 7 days) and verify the role exists on the company's actual career page.
Does applying early really matter?
Yes. Studies show applications in the first 24-48 hours get significantly more attention. Recruiters often start reviewing immediately and may schedule interviews before the posting is even a week old.
What about niche job boards for my industry?
Industry-specific boards often have higher signal-to-noise ratio and less competition than general platforms. Use them in addition to the major platforms, especially for specialized roles.