LinkedIn’s Easy Apply is a one-click application feature on a select number of job postings featured on LinkedIn.com. LinkedIn blogger Biron Clark (How to Use LinkedIn Easy Apply to Get Interviews) estimates that between 35-45% of jobs feature the Easy Apply option on LinkedIn, depending on industry and position. If the Easy Apply feature is available, you can respond to job postings quickly and easily, and since LinkedIn’s Easy Apply is a more streamlined process than applying directly to companies online, you can submit more applications in less time.

While LinkedIn’s Easy Apply can help you apply for lots of jobs quickly, the quality of your LinkedIn profile is critical to getting the attention and interest of potential employers. Writer Tom Hillhouse (What Hiring Managers See When You “Easy Apply” on LinkedIn) points out that before employers see your complete profile or resume, they must select you from a long list of candidates based only on your picture, name, location, and headline. If you want to get through this initial screen, focus on these elements of your LinkedIn profile first:

Photo: Your photo should be a current professional-looking headshot, not a vacation photo or other casual shot. Using an inappropriate photo or opting not to display a photo at all could get you passed over.

Headline: By default, LinkedIn creates your headline based on your current job title and company, such as “Web Developer at Jobscan.” But with 120 characters to work with, stopping there is a wasted opportunity. Jobscan Blog contributor Jon Shields (LinkedIn Easy Apply: What Employers See When You Apply on LinkedIn) suggests adding other details to your headline that give potential employers a better picture of what you can do. Shields expanded his headline to “Web Developer at Jobscan | Full Stack Engineer | Front End Specialist | HTML5, CSS3, Bootstrap, JQuery, PHP.” This 111-character headline conveys more details about his skillset and specialization and adds specific keywords that a recruiter or hiring manager might use when searching for this type of high-tech worker. Other examples of expanded headlines include:

  • Senior Accountant, GL Accounting and Financial Reporting
  • Executive experienced in strategic planning, program evaluation, cost analysis & budget
  • Social Media Strategist & Content Manager, adept at pinpointing content to a target market
  • Tireless, caring Registered Nurse who helps pediatric cancer patients and their families feel at ease throughout treatment and recovery.
  • Reliable pet-sitter who will find out and report back to you exactly what your dog is up to when you’re not home.

Once you’ve made it through the initial screen with your searchable, keyword-rich, attention-grabbing headline, employers will then have access to your full LinkedIn profile and resume. Potential employers will look at your profile first and then at your resume as a backup, so your profile should include everything that’s on your resume and more, such as volunteer work, community activities, etc. Other ways to enhance your LinkedIn profile include getting recommendations, posting and commenting on other’s posts and using your profile summary as a cover letter to employers.

The Tri-Valley Career Center offers a Building Your LinkedIn Profile workshop that provides tips on how to create a strong profile so that you can be recognized for your skills. You can also find

more ideas on how to create an effective LinkedIn profile by reading The 31 Best LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job Seekers by the Muse Editor.

If your LinkedIn profile features an effective headline, relevant keywords, and good descriptions of your skills, experience and achievements, recruiter Jaclyn Westlake (Here’s When You Can Use the “Easy Apply” Option on LinkedIn – and When You Can’t) recommends including LinkedIn’s Easy Apply as part of your job search strategy. The key to success with Easy Apply is to make sure you’re getting the attention of hiring managers and recruiters by offering a clear picture of your qualifications for their job openings.

It should be noted, however, that once you hit that “Easy Apply” button, the very next step is to notify your contacts inside that company to let them know you have applied.