Jobs by Referral

What it does

Jobs by Referral is a web app that helps job seekers discover opportunities at companies where their LinkedIn connections work. Users upload their LinkedIn connections data (a CSV file from their LinkedIn data archive), and the app analyzes it to show which companies they have connections at, along with current job openings at those companies via the JSearch API (powered by Google for Jobs). The entire data processing happens client-side, so personal connection data never touches a server.

Who it is for

This tool is designed for professionals, especially in tech, who are actively job hunting and want to leverage their existing network. It's particularly useful for those who find cold applying ineffective and prefer to get referrals. The creator built it after several developer friends were laid off and struggled with the job market.

Why it matters

Cold applying to jobs has become increasingly ineffective due to high competition and AI-generated applications. Referrals significantly increase the chance of landing an interview. Jobs by Referral solves the first step: knowing which companies in your network are hiring. It provides a systematic way to approach your network rather than manually scanning job boards or relying on LinkedIn's less discoverable "In My Network" filter.

Launch signal

The app was launched as a Show HN on Hacker News on July 7, 2025, where it stayed on the front page for about 24 hours. The creator noted that the popularity was likely driven by the tough job market. However, as of the blog post, the project has been sunset because it wasn't free to operate.

Brand and naming

The name "Jobs by Referral" is straightforward and clearly communicates the value proposition: finding jobs through referrals. It's memorable and directly addresses the pain point of leveraging one's network. The domain jobsbyreferral.com reinforces the brand. The creator's personal blog post provides transparency about the project's origin and eventual shutdown.