How to Find Job Openings in the Current Labor Market

Let’s face it—traditional job hunting can feel… soul-crushing. But there are creative ways to find opportunities that don’t involve endlessly applying to cold job posts. Here are a few approaches that actually work (and make you stand out): 🎯 Make a “reverse job post” – Instead of applying, post what you’re looking for and what you bring to the table. Let the right roles find you. 🎙️ Be loud about your skills – Share a short case study, a portfolio sample, or even a “day in the life” reel. Show > tell. 📬 Cold DM, warm approach – Reach out to people in roles you admire. Not to ask for a job—but to ask for insight. Jobs often follow. 🛠️ Build something – A tiny project, a landing page, a Notion doc, a demo. Creating is the new resume. 📢 Use niche communities – Reddit, Slack groups, industry Discords, newsletters—these are job goldmines most people overlook. 🎨 Brand yourself creatively – Resume as a website? LinkedIn as a story series? Use your platform to spark curiosity. 💬 Tell people you’re looking—but give them the right words – Make it easy for others to advocate for you. Be specific about role, industry, and value. 👀 Follow funding rounds – New funding = new hiring. Track who just raised and reach out before they post jobs. 🪄 Treat job hunting like marketing – You’re not “begging.” You’re offering value. So position yourself like a solution. Sometimes, the best opportunities come from showing up where others aren’t looking. Which of these have you tried—or want to try next? #JobSearchTips #CareerGrowth #HiddenJobs #PersonalBranding #CreativeCareers #NetworkingTips

When I was recruiting at a startup, I didn’t have LinkedIn Recruiter or fancy sourcing tools. So I got creative and turned to Google. There’s a trick called X-ray search that recruiters use to find talent. But job seekers can flip it to find roles that aren’t showing up on LinkedIn or job boards. It works because you’re searching company job boards directly specifically sites hosted by Greenhouse, Lever and Ashby which are the three most common platforms used by startups, tech companies and design forward teams to post jobs. Here’s how it works: Say you’re a Product Designer looking for remote roles. Pop this into Google: site:jobs.lever.co OR site:jobs.greenhouse.io OR site:ashbyhq.com "product designer" AND "remote" You’ll get real-time openings, straight from company career pages. Looking for something location-based and you’re a Social Media Manager in LA, use this: site:jobs.greenhouse.io OR site:jobs.lever.co "social media manager" AND "Los Angeles" You can plug in any title, industry or location that matters to you like “brand designer,” “UX internship,” or “marketing. coordinator” This is how I found amazing candidates when I had zero tools. Now I’m sharing it with you because the best jobs aren’t always on the front page. Try it and let me know what you find!

The old playbook—pick a career path, climb the ladder, retire—doesn’t always fit the world we’re living in. We’re navigating: ✅ Mass layoffs and hiring freezes ✅ A global trade crisis disrupting entire industries ✅AI transforming job roles faster than companies can adapt ✅ And a deeper realization that life’s too short to stay stuck in the wrong role That’s why non-linear careers aren’t just more common—they’re necessary. And if you’re in the middle of a pivot, your next opportunity is probably not through a LinkedIn job post. (Although that strategy is great for interview practice!) According to Harvard Business Review, the “hidden job market” is real—and growing 📈 And while up to 85% of jobs are filled through networking, many job seekers aren’t taught how to navigate that world effectively. Here are a few ways to access the “hidden job market” in a real, results-driven way: 1️⃣ Ask for referrals If you see a role at a company where you know someone, reach out. Let them know why you’re excited about it, how you can add value, and ask if they’d feel comfortable referring you. Referred candidates are 4x more likely to be hired. 2️⃣ Request targeted informational interviews. Reach out to people in roles or industries you’re exploring. Ask for 15–20 minutes to learn about their journey to where they are today—not to pitch yourself. These conversations build trust, surface insights, and can lead to opportunities you’d never see on a job board. 3️⃣ Be the kind of connector you’re hoping to meet. Share useful leads. Make introductions. Offer encouragement. Strong networks aren’t just built by asking for help—they’re built by being helpful. 4️⃣ Tap into alumni and industry-specific networks. These groups can support you with job leads, mentorship, and warm intros. Most people want to help someone who shares their background, mission and/or values. Worth a look! 5️⃣ Show up consistently. Comment on posts. Share insights. Reflect out loud. More importantly, always be networking—not just when you need a job. Visibility builds trust and trust can lead to opportunity. —— Regardless of your situation, focus on what’s working for you. Own your story and at the very least, stay true to what’s most important to you. The average person spends 90,000 hours of their lives working—make them count ✨ What strategies have helped you develop your network or uncover unseen opportunities? #jobseekers #careertransition #careerpivot #hiddenjobmarket #networking