Not all roles are advertised. Those who rely solely on job postings see only part of the market.
In the recruitment process, a distinction is made between the open and the hidden job market. The open market includes all publicly advertised roles – on job platforms, company websites or in the media. The hidden market consists of positions that are not published: they are filled through personal networks, referrals, headhunters or speculative applications. This route is particularly common for specialist and leadership roles – estimates suggest that up to two thirds of such positions are filled without ever being advertised.
Digitalisation has changed the open market: more roles are accessible online – but it has become harder for job seekers to keep track, and more time-consuming for companies to sift through suitable applications. At the same time, the hidden job market is gaining in importance through active sourcing: recruiters proactively search for suitable candidates via platforms such as LinkedIn.
Anyone who wants to be visible in the hidden market needs a well-maintained, compelling LinkedIn profile – and initiative. The hidden job market is more demanding. But it often offers the better opportunities.
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