10 Ways to Improve LinkedIn Job Targeting

LinkedIn usually sends junk job offers. Train the algorithm to send you job ads you actually want to see!

A while ago, something shifted for me on LinkedIn. It went from suggesting irrelevant job ads to showing job opportunities that made sense, roles aligned with my personal goals, values, and experience.

I am Gaby Anés, and this didn’t happen through a fancy growth hack or algorithm trick. It happened because I showed up, supported others, and stayed active with intention.

Here are 10 small, consistent actions that helped the algorithm get to know me and led to more meaningful job recommendations.

Bonus: scroll down to RSVP for a LinkedIn profile review session on Wednesday morning.

1. Use Job Filters

Start narrowing roles by job titles, salary range, location, employment type, and keywords, including flexibility preferences like hybrid or remote options. This will save time and teach LinkedIn what kind of opportunities to surface.

For example, I filtered for communication specialist and program manager roles in hybrid settings, and the results began to shift within days.

However, especially during uncertain times and frequent layoffs, I’ve found it helpful to revisit and adjust my preferences periodically to stay aligned with both the market and my evolving goals.

2. Save Job Postings

Permanently save job listings that interest you, even if you’re not applying. LinkedIn uses this to learn what kinds of roles you care about.

Sometimes, I even save older postings for this purpose, especially according to my preferences. I rarely apply to those, but the impact on future suggestions is noticeable.

3. Like and Comment on Recruiter Posts

Engaging with recruiters’ or hiring managers' content signals your interest in career topics and builds visibility in the right circles.

By commenting on posts about hiring and equity, I found more relevant job content and even got direct messages from people in those spaces.

4. Follow Companies and People of Interest

Following accounts related to your ideal employers or target companies helps LinkedIn personalize your feed.

To take it a step further, set job alerts and companies under your Preferences and customize how often and where you receive them (daily or weekly, by email, notifications, or both).

I followed organizations and professionals aligned with communications, marketing, and social impact, and those topics now dominate my job suggestions.

5. Join Meaningful Conversations

Engage in discussions around topics that matter to you. This shows the algorithm—and others—where your professional energy is.

For instance, I’ve shared reflections on ethical marketing, communications, AI, and purpose-driven work, which helped connect me with others in aligned spaces.

6. Share Your Own Posts

You don’t need to post daily. Even occasional content insights, resources, or personal takeaways can train the algorithm and show your voice.

I shared one short post about the power of communication in supporting employees during sensitive transitions. Unintentionally, it increased engagement and led to more profile views, giving me greater visibility and surfacing more aligned opportunities.

7. Keep Your Profile Updated

Ensure your LinkedIn profile reflects your current goals, including your headline, About section, work experience, skills, and recent certifications or courses.

Use keywords related to the roles you are targeting to improve visibility in recruiter searches. A clear, updated profile increases your chances of being discovered for roles that align with your interests.

After updating my profile, including new training, certifications, and targeted keywords, I received more relevant job alerts and noticed increased profile views.

8. Be Consistent, Even When It’s Slow

Even if engagement feels low, keep showing up regularly. This could mean checking in weekly to comment on posts, save job listings, or share a quick insight.

Over time, these steady actions have helped me maintain visibility and build momentum, even when results aren’t immediate.

9. Interact With Recruiting Posts

Engaging with job-related content from others, primarily recruiting posts, can train your feed while strengthening relationships. Celebrate someone’s new goal, share relevant opportunities, or comment to increase reach.

One small action, like commenting on a recruiter’s post to support a peer, unexpectedly improved the quality of the job opportunities I started seeing on my feed.

10. Understand the “X people clicked apply”

The number you see on a LinkedIn job posting, like “Over 100 people clicked apply,” only reflects how many users clicked the “Apply” button.

That button usually redirects to the company’s external careers site, and LinkedIn can’t track how many people applied. Some users click to learn more about the job or organization without applying.

Don’t let those numbers discourage you. If the role is still open and you meet 60% of the qualifications, it’s always worth applying.

Two Bonus Insights

I hope the ideas above help you train the LinkedIn algorithm to start sending you jobs you want to apply for. Here are two bonus insights:

a) Reaching out after applying

If the job post includes a hiring person, take the extra step to reach out, especially if the role and company strongly resonate with you. Mention what drew you to the company, express your interest, and/or share how your skills align with their mission.

After applying, I messaged someone listed on the post. Although she had the purple #Hiring badge, she wasn’t from HR; she was part of the director’s hiring team. She kindly replied and offered a preliminary interview, leading to a test and a final panel interview. It took me some courage to reach out, but that small, intentional message became a pivotal moment in my job search.

b) Follow up via email after the interviews

Don’t assume silence means rejection; sometimes, it’s just an oversight.

After a preliminary interview, I emailed HR to check in. She initially replied that they hadn’t decided, then quickly sent a second email, realizing she had forgotten to include me in the panel interview invite.

That short follow-up message got me back in the process until the final round and reminded me how minor efforts can sometimes shift everything.

Wednesday, 8am EST: Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

What exactly should you do to improve your LinkedIn profile? How to make it stronger? What will get recruiters’ attention? Where should you not focus?

Paid Career Pivot subscribers can RSVP for the Ask Me Anything session on Wednesday.

Kristof Schoenaerts, a senior-level recruiter who studies how search firms use LinkedIn, will review your LinkedIn profile and give you actionable insights on what to change and what to ignore.