Author: April Ogden, Founder and CEO, It’s Your Outcome

📢 You’ve been told that job hunting is about applying online. But what if I told you that 80% of high-paying jobs never make it to job boards?

While you’re filling out applications and waiting for responses, someone else is getting hired behind the scenes—without ever hitting ‘submit.’

The question is: Will you stay in the cycle of applying and hoping, or will you take control and access the opportunities most people never see?

The answer? The hidden job market. Let’s unlock it.

The February 2025 Jobs Report: What It Means for You

The February 2025 Jobs Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

showed that U.S. job openings rose by 151,000, but the unemployment rate increased to 4.1%—the highest in nearly two years. Federal employment dropped by 10,000 jobs due to a hiring freeze, while the healthcare sector added 52,000 jobs, and transportation & warehousing gained 18,000. Meanwhile, retail lost 6,000 jobs and food services dropped 27,500 positions.

The job market is competitive, but hiring is still happening. Companies continue to look for top talent, especially for roles that drive business growth. The key is knowing how to position yourself where opportunities exist—before they’re ever listed.

The real opportunities? They’re in the hidden job market.

What Is the Hidden Job Market?

The hidden job market refers to positions that companies fill through networking, referrals, and internal promotions—before they ever reach job boards.

📌 Think about your last job—how did you hear about it? If it wasn’t from a job board, you’ve already used the hidden job market. Now let’s take that strategy to the next level.

Step 1: Identify Companies That Hire Before Posting Jobs

How Do You Find Companies That Rely on Referrals?

✔ Research companies that promote from within. Check LinkedIn job postings and see if a company lists “Internal candidates preferred.”

✔ Look for organizations that are growing fast. Expanding companies often fill roles quickly before making them public.

✔ Monitor hiring trends. If a company frequently posts similar roles, they likely have an internal hiring pipeline.

📌 Pro Tip: Many companies have “hidden hiring needs”—meaning they’re open to great candidates even if they don’t have an active job posting.

💡 Now that you know where the hidden jobs are… let’s talk about the one strategy that gets you in the door—before the job is ever posted.

Step 2: Use LinkedIn Company Pages to Identify Recruiters & Hiring Managers

How to Use LinkedIn to Find the Right Contacts

Instead of haphazardly messaging people, use LinkedIn’s Company Pages to identify recruiters, hiring managers, and decision-makers.

✔ Step 1: Visit the Company’s LinkedIn Page.

Search for the company on LinkedIn and go to its official page.

✔ Step 2: Click on “People” to See Employees.

This section will show you who works at the company, including recruiters and hiring managers.

✔ Step 3: Look for Recruiters & Hiring Managers.

Use filters to search for roles like:

Talent Acquisition Manager

Recruiter

Hiring Manager

HR Business Partner

✔ Step 4: Engage Before Messaging.

Like, comment, or share their posts before reaching out.

Look for shared connections who can introduce you.

💡 You’ve connected with the right people. But what happens next? If your LinkedIn profile isn’t positioned correctly, you’ll still get ignored. Let’s fix that.

Step 3: Update Your LinkedIn Profile to Get Found

Recruiters and hiring managers actively search LinkedIn for top candidates, making an updated profile a critical job search tool.

Key Facts & Stats:

✔ 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates. (GoHire)

✔ 67% of recruiters say LinkedIn hires are higher quality. (The Social Shepherd)

✔ LinkedIn now allows up to 100 skills, improving searchability.

How to Get Noticed:

✔ Use Keywords – Optimize your headline & skills section.

✔ Stay Active – Engage with posts, comment, and share insights.

✔ Complete Your Profile – Professional photo, compelling summary, and detailed experience.

📌 If your LinkedIn profile isn’t updated, you’re INVISIBLE to recruiters—fix it today.

Final Thoughts

The Best Jobs Aren’t Always Posted—So Stop Waiting

✔ Start researching companies that hire before posting.

✔ Use strategic networking to uncover unlisted roles.

✔ Increase your visibility so companies find you first.

✔ Reach out directly to hiring managers with confidence.

📌 If you found this valuable, share it with a friend who’s still stuck in the online application loop. It might be the insight they need to land their next job!

📌 Need a networking strategy that actually gets results? Book a Career Coaching Session

🚀 The best jobs go to those who take action. Will you be one of them? 🔥