How to Find Unpublicized Jobs

Do companies ever hire people for jobs that aren’t posted? Definitely. It’s atypical, however, because hiring managers usually need to generate a req and follow HR procedures to fill a job, including posting it. But here are the situations when employers don’t advertise for roles:

• Someone is doing the job, but the manager is considering replacing him or her.
• The company prefers to fill the job internally, and a person may already be earmarked.
• The team is looking for someone they have worked with previously; they clearly prioritize candidates who are a known quantity.
• The role is strategic, so the company doesn’t want to publicize where it’s going.
• The company plans on posting the job but knows it will take a long time so the hiring manager has started asking trusted contacts for referrals (this happens all the time).

Now that you know about this hidden job market, you should expand your job search beyond job boards. A few things to do:

• Networking is often the best way to land a job. People inside a company may think of a job that’s not widely known for you. And you may need them to vouch for your skills and cultural fit. But first they must know you are open to joining and what jobs you’d consider.
• Get known by top recruiters. Clients ask me to work on searches they haven’t published yet or on confidential/sensitive searches. In both cases I reach out to candidates I know and trust first before scouring the marketplace.
• Keep in touch with companies you have applied to. Their hiring managers and recruiters may keep you in mind if they liked you but didn’t think you were quite right for one job. Make it easy for them to think of you when another job that’s a better fit for you pops up.