What is the hidden job market LinkedIn?

The hidden job market refers to job openings that are not advertised on public job boards or company career sites. These “hidden” jobs make up a significant portion of the overall job market, with some estimates stating that 70-80% of jobs are never publicly posted.

LinkedIn has become an important platform for tapping into the hidden job market. With over 600 million users worldwide, LinkedIn offers access to an extensive professional network and insights into unposted jobs at many companies.

How does the hidden job market work?

The hidden job market operates through networking, referrals, and direct outreach to companies. Rather than responding to a public job ad, job seekers use connections and relationships to get their foot in the door for unadvertised roles. Here are some of the main ways jobs stay hidden:

• Employees are promoted or transferred internally
• Companies prefer to hire from internal referrals and recommendations
• Hiring managers directly recruit candidates, avoiding postings
• Jobs are filled before they are publicly advertised
• Companies post jobs internally but not externally

Tapping into the hidden job market requires proactively reaching out to your network and companies of interest, rather than only browsing job sites. Building connections is critical for discovering and getting referrals for unposted openings.

Why is the hidden job market so big?

There are several reasons companies choose not to publicly advertise jobs:

• Save on recruitment costs – Posting on public sites costs money for the job ad and can attract an overwhelming number of unqualified applicants.
• Target specific candidates – Companies can be more selective by directly recruiting.
• Avoid turnover – Internal hires and referrals tend to have higher retention rates.
• Maintain confidentiality – Keeping the opening quiet preserves secrecy around new initiatives or projects.
• Fill urgent needs quickly – The time-intensive hiring process can be avoided by tapping into internal networks.

Relying more on the hidden job market allows companies to improve recruitment efficiency, quality of hires, and confidentiality around their talent needs.

How can LinkedIn access the hidden job market?

Here are some ways LinkedIn opens up access to unadvertised openings and networking opportunities:

Connections

Grow your network on LinkedIn to open doors and get insider information about potential hidden jobs. Reach out directly to connections at companies of interest to inquire about unposted opportunities. Ask connections for introductions to hiring managers and recruiters.

Company Pages

Research and follow company pages to keep up with organizational changes, new initiatives, and expansion plans that often precipitate hiring. Engage with employees and the page to get on the company’s radar.

Job Search Preferences

Select “Open to Work” on your profile settings so your network knows you are job hunting. Recruiters can find you through searches if an appropriate hidden opening arises.

Groups

Join industry and niche groups related to your field to expand your reach and connect with professionals who may know of unposted jobs. Contribute value by sharing advice and insights.

Recruiter Outreach

Proactively connect with recruiters and talent acquisition professionals who work in your industry. Build relationships and keep them updated on your background so they contact you for hidden jobs.

Company Follows

Follow companies you are interested in to keep informed of new hires, expansions, initiatives, and projects that often create unadvertised roles. This signals your interest to the company.

Keyword Searches

Leverage LinkedIn’s intelligent job matching algorithms. Tailor your profile with keywords relevant to roles of interest so recruiters can find you for hidden openings.

Lead generation tools

Use Sales Navigator or other lead generation tools to identify, research, and connect with managers and executives at your target companies to inquire about potential unposted opportunities.

Tips for accessing the hidden job market on LinkedIn

Here are some best practices for tapping into hidden jobs on LinkedIn:

• Complete your profile 100% to represent yourself professionally to connections and recruiters.
• Be an active networker. Grow your connections and engage meaningfully with your network by sharing content and insights.
• Communicate your value proposition clearly. Tailor your profile summary, title, and background to the types of roles you seek.
• Proactively reach out and message connections at target companies to express interest in opportunities.
• Follow companies you want to work for and build connections with their employees.
• Join relevant industry groups and check discussion posts for hidden opportunities.
• Leverage the Open To Work profile badge to signal you are job searching to recruiters.
• Research inside connections when applying to unposted roles to improve your chances.
• Customize your LinkedIn URL and customize your public profile link to share.
• Watch for new hires, promotions, or reorganizations at target companies that may precipitate hidden openings.

Benefits of finding hidden jobs on LinkedIn

Accessing the hidden job market on LinkedIn provides many potential advantages:

• Gain access to many more job opportunities beyond advertised openings.
• Avoid the highly competitive applicant pools for public job postings.
• Get a foot in the door and stand out at companies through connections.
• Hear about opportunities early before they are publicly posted.
• Apply for jobs directly and potentially bypass the screening process.
• Networking and relationships may provide an advantage over other candidates.
• Uncover roles perfectly aligned to your qualifications that aren’t openly advertised.

Challenges of the hidden job market on LinkedIn

While the advantages are clear, there are also some potential challenges to consider with tapping into unadvertised roles on LinkedIn:

• It requires more work and proactive outreach compared to responding to postings.
• You may run into dead ends reaching out about potential opportunities that aren’t actually there.
• Cold contacting hiring managers risks being seen as intrusive.
• Your connections may not respond to inquiries or offers to introduce you.
• Without a public job description, it is harder to assess fit and requirements.
• It depends heavily on having a well-connected network.
• Internal referrals mean facing competition with interested employees.

Should you prioritize hidden jobs over applying to postings?

Here are some pros and cons of focusing on the hidden job market versus advertised openings:

The hidden job market offers advantages in terms of less competition and more opportunities to leverage connections. However, advertised openings provide important access and transparency into open roles that suit your background.

The best approach is to diversify your search by pursuing both hidden and advertised opportunities, rather than limiting yourself to just one or the other. As you apply to postings, also continue networking, engaging on LinkedIn, and reaching out to your connections at target companies. This two-pronged approach gives you the widest access to the right roles.

Should you tell your network you are looking?

Here are some pros and cons of openly communicating you are looking for new job opportunities:

Being open about your search can help activate your network to uncover hidden opportunities. However, use discretion to avoid perception issues with your current role. Focus on privately discussing your search with close contacts most likely to aid your hunt.

How can you stand out when applying to hidden jobs?

Here are some tips to help your candidacy stand out when applying for unadvertised openings:

• Highlight any inside connections or referrals in your cover letter.
• Convey enthusiasm and fit for the company and role in your outreach.
• Ask connections for information about the hiring manager to customize your approach.
• Mention any contacts or conversations you’ve had at the company.
• Along with your resume, provide any requested information upfront.
• Follow up after applying to reiterate interest and fit for the role.
• Ask connections to put in a good word or make introductions on your behalf.

Leveraging your relationships and showing you have done your homework on the company and role can help give you an advantage over other candidates for an unposted opening.

Conclusion

The hidden job market makes up a major portion of the overall job opportunities available. LinkedIn provides valuable access through your professional network and company insights to uncover unadvertised openings that suit your qualifications and interests.

Tapping into hidden jobs requires more proactive effort but enables you to avoid highly competitive publicly posted roles. A two-pronged approach of pursuing both open job listings and hidden opportunities will provide the greatest access to your next career move.

With a complete LinkedIn profile, thoughtful networking approaches, and leveraging your connections, you can successfully access the hidden job market. By putting time into curating your professional brand and relationships on LinkedIn, unposted roles can become discoverable that align perfectly with your career aspirations.