Many jobs exist for months before they're advertised. Here are 4 practical ways to find them before they hit the job boards.
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Quick Answer
The best way to access the hidden job market and find unadvertised jobs is to build relationships with recruiters, use your network, research companies that are growing, stay active on social media, and make targeted speculative approaches to employers before they start formally recruiting.
Key Takeaways
What Is the hidden job market?
The often-quoted statistic that ‘70% of jobs are never advertised’ has been mentioned by career experts for years, but nobody knows what source this came from to be able to verify it.
So, is this just a myth or is there any truth in this?
Well after 30 years recruitment experience, I can tell you that yes, a significant proportion of jobs never hit the job boards and, together, they form what is referred to as the hidden job market.
Whether the real figure 60, 70 or 80% really isn’t important. Knowing how to find these jobs is.
Why so many jobs are hidden
To understand how to access the hidden job market, you need to understand the lifecycle of a job.
Jobs begin as conversations in response to a range of triggers long before they become actual vacancies.
For example:
- A company wins a major contract and suddenly needs more staff.
- Rumours are circulating that a key employee is considering leaving.
- Funding is secured for expansion leading to more and different roles
- A team is overloaded and productivity starts to suffer.
- New technology is required for a project creating skills gaps that don't currently exist within the organisation.
At this stage, there is no job advertisement, no application process, and often not even an approved position description.
There is simply a problem that needs solving.
The Opportunity Gap
Between recognising a problem and advertising a job lies what I call the Opportunity Gap.
This is the period where organisations are deciding what to do.
- Can existing staff absorb the workload?
- Should someone be promoted internally?
- Can the work be outsourced?
- Does the budget allow another hire?
- Would a contractor be a better option?
- Should we engage a recruiter?
Only after these questions have been answered does a vacancy usually become public.
This process can take weeks or even months which creates an amazing window of opportunity for proactive job seekers.
Why the Hidden Job Market is growing
The hidden job market isn't just a recruitment buzzword. In many industries it is becoming more important than ever.
According to LinkedIn's Global Talent Trends research, employee referrals remain one of the highest-quality sources of hires, delivering candidates who are often hired faster and stay longer than applicants from traditional job boards.
At the same time, employers are increasingly focused on reducing recruitment costs, improving hiring speed and finding candidates with specialist skills.
As a result, many organisations prefer to avoid spending money on advertising roles and attempt to fill positions through:
- Internal promotions
- Recruiter databases
- Professional networks
- Previous applicants
- Direct approaches from candidates
So does this mean job boards are now irrelevant and have ‘had their day.’
Far from it. It simply means that the pecking order has changed and many opportunities are explored through other channels first.
The Rise of Passive Hiring
There is another important reason hidden jobs exist.
Many of the best candidates are not actively looking for work.
LinkedIn has repeatedly reported that a large proportion of professionals are considered "passive candidates" – people who are open to hearing about opportunities but are not actively applying for jobs.
Recruiters know this and that is why they often begin building candidate shortlists long before a role is advertised.
I am literally doing this right now for a couple of my clients.
In some cases, they already know who they intend to approach before the vacancy has even been formally approved.
This is one of the reasons networking remains so powerful.
When opportunities arise, people tend to think of people.
Not resumes, not applications but real people.
The question therefore becomes: how do you make sure you are one of the people who comes to mind when opportunities arise?
5 Ways to be considered for jobs that never reach job boards
If you are frustrated by applying for advertised jobs and Applicant Tracking Systems ensuring you hear nothing back, here are 5 practical ways to access the hidden job market.
1. Build relationships with recruiters
One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is only contacting recruiters when they need a job.
The strongest recruiter relationships are built long before a vacancy appears.
Good recruiters are often involved in workforce planning discussions, succession planning conversations and confidential hiring projects before a role is publicly announced.
This means they are often aware of opportunities weeks or even months before they publish them on SEEK or LinkedIn.
The goal is not to become best friends with recruiters but to become memorable.
When a recruiter receives a brief, you want them to think: "I spoke to someone recently who would be perfect for this."
How to Stand Out
Remember, recruiters work in relationships. People they know trust and remember are more likely to hear about opportunities first.
2. Activate your network
When you hear the word networking, you probably immediately think of awkward business breakfasts, forced small talk at industry events, and ‘putting yourself out there’ by reaching out to complete strangers on LinkedIn.
Thankfully, that isn't what effective networking looks like.
Networking is simply making sure the right people know who you are, what you do and what kind of opportunities interest you.
Conversations are happening all around you every day that a pure gold in terms of finding unadvertised jobs.
- Managers are mentioning to people how they are struggling to find someone with a particular skill set.
- Colleagues are hearing that a department is expanding.
- Suppliers are learning that a client has won a major contract.
- Friends are hearing that someone they know is retiring.
That's why your network is often one of the most valuable assets in your job search.
You don’t need thousands of connections to effectively network.
Start with:
- Former colleagues
- Previous managers
- Clients
- Suppliers
- Friends and family
- Professional associations
- Industry contacts
Make It easy for them to help you.
For example, when you reach out to them or talk with them, instead of saying "I'm looking for a job," try "I'm looking for Project Manager opportunities within the civil construction sector in Brisbane."
Specificity helps people connect opportunities to your name.
The easier you make it for people to understand what you're looking for, the more likely they are to think of you when an opportunity arises.
3. Research growing employers
One of the easiest ways to uncover hidden opportunities is to follow organisations that are likely to hire before they start advertising.
Hiring is usually the result of growth.
So if you can spot the growth, you can often spot the future hiring.
Look for Hiring Signals
Pay attention to:
- Major contract awards
- Business expansions
- New office openings
- Funding announcements
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Leadership appointments
- New product launches
- Industry awards
Each of these can create demand for additional staff.
For example, if a construction company wins a major infrastructure project, there is a good chance they will need engineers, project managers, commercial staff and support personnel long before those vacancies appear online.
Set Up Alerts
Use tools such as:
- Google Alerts
- LinkedIn company updates
- Industry publications
- Trade magazines
- Business news websites
When you identify a company that appears to be growing, don't wait for a job advertisement.
- Research the organisation.
- Identify the relevant decision maker.
- Make contact professionally.
- Introduce yourself and explain how your skills may be able to support their growth plans.
You may discover that recruitment discussions are already underway.
4. Use social media strategically
Most people use social media passively but successful job seekers use it strategically.
Social media is no longer just a place to consume information.
It is one of the easiest ways to increase your visibility and stay informed about potential opportunities.
LinkedIn remains the most powerful social platform for professional networking yet many people treat it as nothing more than an online resume.
You're missing a huge opportunity if that's all you're doing.
Use LinkedIn to:
- Follow target employers
- Connect with recruiters
- Engage with industry content
- Share your expertise
- Join professional groups
- Monitor hiring activity
Remember, visibility creates familiarity.
When recruiters and hiring managers repeatedly see your name associated with useful, relevant content, you become more memorable.
Industry Communities
Increasingly, online professional conversations are happening outside LinkedIn.
Depending on your industry, this may include:
- Industry forums
- Professional associations
- Slack communities
- Discord groups
- Specialist Facebook groups
These communities and forums often share information long before opportunities become public but take care not to just consume but participate too.
The people who benefit most from social media are usually the people contributing to the conversation.
- Comment.
- Share insights.
- Ask thoughtful questions.
- Help other people.
The goal is not to become an influencer but to become visible.
5. Make targeted direct approaches
Most speculative applications fail for one simple reason.
They're not targeted.
Sending the same generic resume to one hundred companies rarely produces good results.
Sending a tailored approach to ten carefully selected organisations often does.
Focus on Quality, Not Quantity
Before contacting an employer, ask yourself:
- Why this company?
- What challenges might they be facing?
- How could I help solve those challenges?
- Who is the right person to contact?
The more relevant your approach, the more likely it is to generate a response.
Demonstrate Value
Many speculative applications focus entirely on what the candidate wants.
Employers are more interested in what you can contribute.
So, instead of just talking about why you want to work for them, explain why employing you could benefit them.
- Show that you understand their business.
- Reference recent projects, expansion plans or company developments.
- Demonstrate that you've done your homework.
Follow Up Professionally
A lack of response does not always mean a lack of interest.
People are busy, emails get missed, and priorities change on a daily basis.
A polite follow-up can often be the difference between being ignored and starting a conversation.
- Be persistent without becoming annoying.
- Professional without becoming passive.
- Confident without becoming entitled.
FAQ
Are unadvertised jobs only available through networking?
No. While networking is one of the most effective ways to discover hidden opportunities, unadvertised jobs can also be found through recruiters, company research, industry news, social media and targeted direct approaches to employers. The key is being proactive rather than waiting for vacancies to appear on job boards.
Do recruiters really know about jobs before they are advertised?
Often they do. Many employers engage recruiters before a role is made public, particularly for confidential, specialist or senior positions. Recruiters may begin identifying suitable candidates weeks or even months before a vacancy is advertised.
How do I approach a company if they don't have any jobs advertised?
Research the organisation first and identify the relevant hiring manager or department. Introduce yourself professionally, explain how your skills could benefit the business and reference any recent company growth, projects or developments that prompted your interest. Focus on the value you can offer rather than simply asking if they have any jobs available.
Is the hidden job market more important for senior roles?
The hidden job market exists at all levels, but it tends to become more significant as seniority increases. Executive, management and specialist positions are often filled through referrals, recruiter networks and direct approaches before they are publicly advertised.
How can I improve my chances of finding hidden job opportunities?
Build relationships before you need them. Stay connected with recruiters, maintain an active professional network, follow companies you admire, engage on LinkedIn and keep your resume and profile up to date. The more visible and connected you are, the more likely you are to hear about opportunities before they reach the wider market.
Conclusion
The hidden job market is not a secret club that only recruiters and well-connected professionals can access. It's simply the collection of opportunities that exist before they become public.
And the reality is that many jobs remain hidden because they are filled without the need to advertise them.
Most job seekers wait for opportunities to appear.
The people who consistently uncover hidden opportunities go looking for them instead.
