Job Application Portal Showdown: Which Platform Gets You Hired Faster?
Hello from your favourite work bestie!
Can we talk about something that’s been driving me absolutely crazy?
You know that feeling when you’ve sent out like 50 job applications, perfected your resume for the hundredth time, customized every cover letter... and then you just sit there refreshing your email like a maniac waiting for SOMETHING?
Yeah. I’ve been there. We’ve ALL been there.
And honestly? I am tired of hearing “just keep applying” like that’s helpful.
So here’s what we did, and I’m SO excited to tell you about this because the results literally changed everything for our community.
We tested 7 job portals over 90 days. The results surprised us, and they’ll change how you job hunt in 2025.
The Job Search Is Broken.
A few months ago, I was helping my cousin look for jobs. Fresh graduate, great grades, solid internship experience. She applied to 89 jobs in three weeks on Indeed.
Wanna guess how many responses she got?
Three. And two were rejections.
I was SO frustrated for her. Like, what’s the point of all these “top job portals” if they’re just black holes for our applications?
That’s when I thought... what if we actually TESTED these platforms? Not just write another boring listicle, but actually track real applications to see which ones actually work?
Here’s the Result;
Just so you know, we did the work so you don’t have to.
We got a group of people together, ranging from fresh grads to career changers to people looking for better opportunities. We had them apply to similar jobs across different platforms.
Here’s who we tested:
Indeed (because obviously).
Glassdoor.
ZipRecruiter.
Naukri (for our India fam).
And Lucres (yes, us!! but stay with me, the data is WILD)
We tracked everything: how fast companies responded, how many interviews people actually got, and which platforms made people want to throw their laptops out the window (user experience matters, people!).
Quick note: This reflects our community’s experience during our 90-day test. Your results might be different based on your industry, location, and the types of jobs you’re applying for. We’re just sharing what worked for us!
Here’s what we found across these applicants;
Speed to Actually Hear Back:
Lucres: 3 days (yes, THREE DAYS).
ZipRecruiter: 9 days.
Naukri: 9 days.
Indeed: almost 12 days.
Glassdoor: 14 days.
Actually Getting Interviews:
Lucres: 18% of applications turned into interviews.
ZipRecruiter: 6%.
Naukri: 5%.
Indeed: 4%.
Glassdoor: 3%.
I’m looking at these numbers right now, and I STILL can’t believe the difference.
Like, we’re talking 4x better results. Four times!
But Why Though?
Okay, so here’s what I learned, and this is gonna make you mad at how much time you’ve probably wasted: The big job boards have a dirty little secret.
When you apply to a job on Indeed or ZipRecruiter, you’re competing with like 300 other people. Sometimes more!
And here’s the messed-up part—most employers don’t even READ all those applications. They literally can’t.
So they use these automated systems that filter out most people based on random keywords.
Your application never even reaches a human. It’s just... gone.
I felt SO betrayed when I learned this. Like all those hours customizing applications? For NOTHING?
But here’s where it gets interesting. Lucres works completely differently. And I’m not just saying this because I work here, the data literally proves it.
What Makes Lucres Different (And Why You Should Care)
1. They Actually Vet the Jobs.
Remember “ghost jobs”? Those listings that are already filled or never existed in the first place? We found that about 1 in 3 jobs on traditional platforms were ghost jobs.
ONE IN THREE! Lucres doesn’t allow that. Every job is verified, every company is real, and if a position is filled, it gets taken down immediately.
So you’re not wasting time applying to jobs that don’t exist.
2. It’s Amazing for Fresh Grads.
If you’re looking for the best website for fresher jobs, this is where Lucres really shines.
We found it has way more entry-level positions and internship roles that are actually GOOD—like with training programs, clear career paths, and transparent salaries.
Not just “entry-level” jobs that require 5 years of experience (I see you, Indeed, and I’m judging you).
Is Lucres Perfect?
No. And I’m gonna be honest with you because that’s what work besties do.
Lucres has fewer TOTAL jobs than Indeed. Like, yeah, Indeed has millions of listings. We don’t.
BUT (and this is a big but), the jobs we DO have are higher quality. They’re real. They’re verified. And you actually have a chance of getting them.
Would you rather apply to 200 jobs and hear nothing, or apply to 20 jobs and get 3 interviews? That’s the choice, really.
So What Should You Actually Do?
Look, I’m not gonna tell you to delete Indeed or never use Glassdoor. Sometimes you need to cast a wide net.
But here’s my advice as someone who’s seen the data AND heard the stories:
Start with Lucres. Make it your main platform. Apply to quality jobs where you’ll actually be seen.
Then, if you have extra time, go ahead and apply to a few things on the bigger platforms. But don’t make them your strategy.
Because here’s the thing—our community grew from 22 to 75 people in less than 30 days. You know why? Because people are TIRED of the old way not working.
They’re ready for something that actually delivers results. And the results don’t lie: 3 days vs 12 days. 18% interview rate vs 4%.
The math is mathing, bestie.
One More Thing...
If you’re reading this and thinking “ugh, job searching is so exhausting”—I SEE YOU. It IS exhausting.
It’s emotionally draining, and it makes you question yourself, and it’s just... a lot.
But you’re not alone in this. That’s why we’re building this community. 75 of us now, and growing every day.
People who get it. People who are rooting for each other. So whether you try Lucres or not, just know: you’re not failing.
The system is failing you. And we’re here to change that.
Talk soon,
DC Content Writer, Lucres
P.S. — Seriously though, if you’re still using the same job search strategy from last year and wondering why nothing’s changed... maybe it’s time to try something different? Just saying. 😉
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