LinkedIn lets you post job offers for free, but with specific limits that few companies know about in advance. This article explains exactly how many offers you can post for free, what happens when you run out, how much the paid version costs, and when it makes more sense to opt for direct headhunting.
How many free job postings you can publish on LinkedIn
LinkedIn''s official answer is: 1 active job offer at a time, with a limited number of free postings within each 30-day period. LinkedIn doesn''t publish an exact number of allowed free postings per month, and that limit can vary based on the account and usage history.
What is documented precisely are the operating restrictions:
Condition | Free limit |
|---|---|
Simultaneous active offers | Maximum 1 at a time |
Visibility in search | Disabled when reaching 10 candidates |
Offer duration | 30 days, automatic closure |
Reposting the same role | Must wait 7 days |
Estimated inbound candidates | Up to 100 applications/month |
The most important limit few people know: once your free offer has received 10 candidates, it stops appearing in LinkedIn''s search results. The offer is still visible if someone goes directly to your company page, but it stops being shown to new candidates searching for that role.
Limitations that don''t appear in the fine print
You can only have one active offer at the same time
If you''re hiring for two different roles simultaneously, you can only have one published in free mode. For the second one, you''ll have to pay or wait until you close the first.
The 10-candidate limit cuts visibility very quickly
For technical profiles in high demand (developers, data science, product design), 10 applications accumulate within a few hours of posting. Which means the real visibility window of a free offer can be less than a day.
You can''t repost the same role within 7 days
LinkedIn blocks the free posting of the same role within 7 days to prevent abuse. If you want more visibility before that period, you''ll have to pay.
Practical tip: the highest volume of applications for a free offer arrives in the first 48 hours, when LinkedIn distributes it to candidates with active job alerts. After that initial peak, visibility drops drastically even before reaching 10 candidates.
How much does it cost to post a paid job offer on LinkedIn
LinkedIn uses a pay-per-click (PPC) model. There''s no fixed price per offer: you pay based on how many candidates click to view the ad, and that cost per click varies by role, location, and market competition at that moment.
You can choose between daily budget or total budget:
Mode | Detail | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|
Daily budget | You pay per day while the offer is active | E.g.: €10/day x 30 days = ~€300/month |
Total budget | You set a maximum cap for the entire campaign | You decide the limit |
Cost per click (CPC) | Variable by role, location, and competition | No fixed published rate |
Paid duration | Up to 6 months active | Vs. 30 days when free |
LinkedIn doesn''t publish fixed rates. The algorithm determines the CPC based on how many other employers compete for candidates with that profile in that location. For technical profiles in cities like Madrid or Barcelona, the actual cost can be significantly higher than the recommended minimum.
Differences across LinkedIn plans
Plan | Free offers | Cost | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
Basic account (free) | 1 active at a time | €0/month | Limited visibility, no active search tools |
Recruiter Lite | Promoted offers | From €124.99/month | Advanced search + InMails. Offers with greater visibility and up to 6 months duration |
LinkedIn Recruiter (Corporate) | Annual contract | ~€900/month per seat | For talent acquisition teams. Unlimited offers, advanced filters, integrated pipeline |
Can recruitment agencies post free offers on LinkedIn?
Here''s an important nuance many agencies don''t know: according to LinkedIn''s global job posting policy, search and recruitment companies do not have the ability to post jobs for free on LinkedIn. This restriction applies to companies identified as staffing, recruitment, or headhunting.
For agencies, the only way to post offers on LinkedIn is through paid plans, which makes the cost of candidate acquisition via offers even higher.
Headhunting, the most effective alternative to posting job offers
Posting an offer on LinkedIn is an inbound strategy: you wait for candidates to come to you. It makes sense when the profile you''re looking for is active in the market, willing to change jobs and actively searching. But that doesn''t always describe the candidate you need.
The best profiles, especially in technical or leadership roles, are usually employed and don''t visit job portals. To find them, you need to actively go and seek them out. That''s headhunting or direct search, and it''s where tools like HeyTalent make the difference compared to passive offers.
Approach | Posting an offer on LinkedIn | Headhunting with HeyTalent |
|---|---|---|
Type of candidate | Only active candidates | Active and passive |
Control over the profile | You get whoever applies | You define exactly what you''re looking for |
Competition | Your offer competes with hundreds | Direct and personalized contact |
Cost | Variable and growing | Predictable per seat |
Speed with senior profiles | Weeks or months | Faster on specialized profiles |
Need to find candidates who aren''t looking at job offers? HeyTalent is an AI sourcing tool designed for recruitment agencies and talent acquisition teams. It combines precise Boolean search with intelligent profile prioritization.
Frequently asked questions
How many job offers can you post for free on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn allows a maximum of 1 active free offer simultaneously, with a limited number of free postings per 30-day period. Additionally, a free offer stops appearing in search results once it reaches 10 candidates.
How long is a free offer active on LinkedIn?
A free offer lasts 30 days, after which it closes automatically. With a paid plan, the offer can stay active for up to 6 months.
How much does it cost to post a paid job offer on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn uses a pay-per-click (PPC) model. There''s no fixed price: the cost depends on the role, location, and market competition. You can set a daily budget or a maximum total budget. As a guide, a daily budget of €10 over 30 days amounts to about €300 per offer.
Can recruitment agencies post free offers on LinkedIn?
No. According to LinkedIn''s policy, companies identified as recruitment or staffing agencies cannot post job offers for free. For agencies, posting offers on LinkedIn requires paid plans.
What happens when a free offer reaches 10 candidates on LinkedIn?
The offer stops appearing in LinkedIn''s search results. It remains visible on the company page, but is no longer actively distributed to new candidates. To regain visibility in search, it must be promoted with paid budget.
When does headhunting make more sense than posting an offer?
Headhunting is more effective when the profile you''re looking for is senior or highly specialized, when the market for that role is scarce, or when you need confidentiality in the process. Job offers work better for profiles with high demand of active candidates and more standardized roles.