If you’re looking for your next career move, it’s easy to assume that the best opportunities are sitting on LinkedIn or the usual job boards waiting for you to apply, but that’s not always the case.
A growing number of opportunities are filled through direct approaches, professional networks and specialist recruiters before they ever reach the public job market. So, if you’re only applying for advertised roles, you could be missing opportunities that never make it onto your radar.
So, what is the ‘hidden’ job market?
The hidden job market simply refers to roles that aren’t publicly advertised. For employers, this can be a way of reaching experienced professionals who aren’t actively job hunting but may be open to the right opportunity. For candidates, it means that your next role might come from a conversation rather than an application.
At Talent Seeker, we regularly speak to candidates who aren’t actively looking for a new role but would consider making a move if the right opportunity came along.
Here are three ways to make yourself visible:
1. Keep your LinkedIn profile current
Recruiters use LinkedIn to identify potential candidates, so make sure your profile clearly reflects your current experience, achievements and areas of expertise. Think beyond your job title. Highlight the impact you’ve made in your role and the skills you could bring to your next one.
2. Keep your network warm
You don’t need to be constantly networking or attending events. A message to a former colleague, a conversation with someone in your industry or simply staying engaged with relevant people on LinkedIn can help keep you on the radar when opportunities arise.
3. Tell recruiters what you’re looking for
If you work with a specialist recruiter, be honest about what would make you consider a move. It could be progression, greater flexibility, a different company culture, a particular salary level or simply the chance to work on something more interesting. The more a recruiter understands about your ambitions, the easier it is to recognise when the right opportunity comes along.
You don’t have to be actively job hunting
One of the biggest misconceptions about recruitment is that you need to be looking for a new job before speaking to a recruiter. You don’t. Sometimes the best time to explore the market is when you’re happy where you are. It gives you the opportunity to understand what’s out there without the pressure of needing to make a move. The right opportunity may not be available today but being visible and keeping conversations open means you’re more likely to hear about it when it does.
Our advice?
Don’t just apply for jobs. Build your professional visibility, nurture your network and stay open to conversations. Your next career move might not start with an application at all. It might start with a conversation.
