"So I was mostly applying to, like, LinkedIn easy applies and stuff. So I was not getting any response." Software engineer, on a free Huntr support call

🏠 The Ultimate Job Search Guide

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Where you apply changes your odds. Across 1.24 million applications from October 2024 to July 2026:

• Jobs found on Google job search reached an interview 6.6% of the time, against 1.95% on LinkedIn.
• Applications on company career pages reached 6.87%, against 1.95% through job boards. </aside>

Use multiple sources

Keep LinkedIn, but don't rely on it alone. Every week, search:

1. **Google job search.** Google pulls jobs from across the web and sends you to the employer's own form.
2. Niche job boards for your field or city. Fewer people apply to each job. Find niche job boards for your field.
3. Company websites of employers you'd work for. Start with the Hidden Job Market list.

Interview rates vary by job site

LinkedIn carried 970,190 of these applications, 78% of the total. 14 sites beat it. Here's why most LinkedIn applications go nowhere.

GovernmentJobs had the highest rate of all, at 7.28%. If you'd work for a city, county, or state, search GovernmentJobs. Students should check Handshake, and job seekers in Australia or New Zealand should check Seek.

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Takeaway: diversify beyond LinkedIn. Pick a few niche job boards, and apply on company websites.

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Easy apply means hard to get an interview. If it takes you 10 seconds, it takes everyone else 10 seconds too, and you're 1 of hundreds.

• Many people tell me, "I'm going to hit the easy apply button on LinkedIn 200 times." We just don't see any evidence that's worth your time.
• In our 2025 survey, 72.5% of job seekers said Easy Apply got them 0 interviews.

Send fewer, better applications that speak to the job.

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Boston University's Questrom career blog reposted our job sites ranking for its students.

Start with Google job search

Google pulls postings from career pages and job boards, then often sends you to the employer's own form. Search "[job title] jobs" and open the jobs panel, or try a Boolean search:

"job title" AND ("location" OR "remote") AND ("careers" OR "jobs" OR "hiring")

More searches to try: