Comment by Sohcahtoa82

Keep in mind two things:

1. The number of applications reported by LinkedIn is often wrong. If the "apply" link goes to the company's own HR/application page, then every time that link is clicked, LinkedIn counts it as an application. The number LI reports can far exceed the number of actual applications.

2. Many applicants are often wholly unqualified. We're talking entry-level people applying for senior+ level positions or even people with zero tech skills/experience applying for tech jobs.

So if LI says 100 people have applied, likely your competition is closer to 10-20.

Ignore anybody who says the only way to get a job is through networking with people you already know. Only 1 of the 4 tech jobs I've had were via someone I knew, and even that 1 was an internal transfer inside the company.

And even my current job was gotten through LinkedIn's Easy Apply, so ignore anybody who says that's worthless.