LinkedIn Easy Apply Automation

This skill helps an AI coding/operations agent build and run a repeatable LinkedIn Easy Apply workflow.

It is intentionally public and credential-free. It contains no usernames, passwords, cookies, private profile paths, or user-specific secrets.

What it does

• Searches LinkedIn Jobs with Easy Apply enabled.
• Supports remote-only and location-constrained searches.
• Focuses on configurable role keywords such as AI, LLM, Claude, OpenAI, Codex, full-stack, frontend, backend, web, software, JavaScript, TypeScript, Node, React, and Svelte.
• Opens the LinkedIn Easy Apply flow reliably with a direct apply URL when possible.
• Uploads a verified resume PDF.
• Answers only verified applicant facts.
• Skips unknown required questions, compensation questions, custom essays, or subjective fields.
• Keeps state and JSONL logs so daily reruns avoid duplicates.

Safety rules

• Do not store LinkedIn credentials in scripts, skills, memory, logs, or reports.
• Prefer a persistent browser profile where the operator logs in manually once.
• Stop for CAPTCHA, MFA, suspicious-login checks, identity verification, or account-security prompts.
• Do not fabricate applicant facts.
• Do not answer custom freeform questions or compensation expectations without operator-provided answers.
• Re-check full job descriptions for hybrid/location constraints before submitting remote-only applications.

Environment variables

RESUME_PDF=/absolute/path/to/resume.pdf
CHROME_PROFILE=$HOME/.cache/linkedin-chrome
STATE_DIR=/tmp/linkedin-easyapply-daily
MAX_SCAN=80
MAX_APPLY=10
DRY_RUN=1
SEARCHES='Claude|OpenAI|Codex|LLM engineer|AI engineer|full stack engineer|software engineer'
LOCATION='United States'
REMOTE_ONLY=1

Puppeteer launch pattern

const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');

const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
  headless: false,
  executablePath: process.env.CHROME_BIN || '/snap/bin/chromium',
  userDataDir: process.env.CHROME_PROFILE || `${process.env.HOME}/.cache/linkedin-chrome`,
  defaultViewport: null,
  args: ['--no-sandbox', '--disable-setuid-sandbox', '--disable-dev-shm-usage', '--start-maximized']
});

const page = await browser.newPage();
page.setDefaultTimeout(30000);
page.on('dialog', async d => {
  try {
    if (d.type() === 'beforeunload') await d.accept();
    else await d.dismiss();
  } catch {}
});

Search workflow

Build LinkedIn Jobs URLs using explicit filters:

• f_AL=true for Easy Apply.
• Remote filter when remote-only is required.
• Location such as United States when requested.
• Configurable keywords matching the resume and target market.

Keep candidates only when the card/page supports the requested constraints and the title/description matches the target role family.

Direct Easy Apply URL

When a LinkedIn job ID is known, try the direct flow first:

const applyUrl = `https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/${jobId}/apply/?openSDUIApplyFlow=true`;
await page.goto(applyUrl, { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 60000 });

If the modal does not open, fall back to clicking visible Easy Apply controls across buttons and links.

Conservative answer rules

Answer only facts that are verified by the resume, profile, or explicit operator instruction:

• Work authorization / eligible to work: yes only if verified.
• Visa sponsorship required: no only if verified.
• Remote willingness: yes only for remote-only searches.
• Years of experience: use resume-backed values or a user-approved mapping.
• Email/phone/location: use existing profile/resume facts.
• Middle name: blank if none provided.

Skip:

• Salary/compensation expectations.
• Cover-letter text prompts.
• Custom essays.
• Relocation/hybrid/travel if not approved.
• Unclear required inputs, radios, or selects.

Multi-step apply loop

1. Open the apply flow.
2. Detect already-submitted applications.
3. Upload/select the verified resume PDF if needed.
4. Inspect each step's visible inputs/selects/radios.
5. Fill only safe verified answers.
6. Click Next, Review, then Submit application only when no unknown required fields remain.
7. Log submitted/skipped state.

Suggested state

{
  "seen": {},
  "applied": {},
  "skipped": {},
  "alreadySubmitted": {}
}

Write state and logs to:

/tmp/linkedin-easyapply-daily/state.json
/tmp/linkedin-easyapply-daily/results.jsonl

Reporting

Report concise results:

Submitted:
- Title — Company — URL

Skipped:
- Title — Company — URL — reason

State: /tmp/linkedin-easyapply-daily/state.json
Log: /tmp/linkedin-easyapply-daily/results.jsonl

Pitfalls

• Built-in browser tools often time out on LinkedIn. Puppeteer with Chromium and Xvfb is usually more reliable.
• LinkedIn search cards can say Remote while the description includes hybrid/local constraints. Inspect the full page before applying.
• Broad keyword matching can create bad answers. Avoid treating generic words like United States or comfortable as approval.
• Direct DOM value assignment may not update React forms. Prefer click/type and dispatch input/change events.
• If a page detaches or a modal closes unexpectedly, create a new page and continue from the state file.