There is no single best channel - LinkedIn, job boards like Indeed, and referrals each do a different job, and the strongest search uses all three deliberately. In an AI-screened market, referrals carry the most weight, but the others give you reach and visibility that referrals alone cannot.
What each channel is good for
- LinkedIn - visibility, networking and being found by recruiters
- Job boards (Indeed etc.) - breadth and efficient applications to clear-fit roles
- Referrals - the highest hit-rate, because they reach a human directly
Referrals convert best precisely because they bypass AI resume screening.
A combined strategy
- Keep LinkedIn strong so people can find and vouch for you
- Use job boards for reach on well-matched roles
- Invest most effort in referrals and outreach for your target roles
- Use AI to research, tailor and prepare across all three
This ties directly to networking versus online applications - channels are complements, not rivals.
The underlying advantage
Every channel works better when you are genuinely more employable. In 2026 that increasingly means demonstrable AI skills, which improve your profile, your applications and your interviews at once.
The bottom line
Combine LinkedIn for visibility, job boards for reach and referrals for conversion - with AI supporting all three. And keep building real skills through the AI courses at London School of Business UK, including Strategic Application of AI in Business. Enquire today.