Most jobs are never posted publicly. The companies that hire through platforms like Target JobSpace fill roles faster, quieter, and with better candidates. Here is how to tap into that.
Between 60 and 80 percent of job vacancies are filled before they are ever advertised publicly. That number should fundamentally change how you approach your job search.
The roles you see on job boards — the ones with 400 applications in 48 hours — are the ones nobody could fill any other way. The best roles, at the best companies, are filled quietly, before any public announcement is made.
Why do companies do this? Because public posting is expensive and produces a huge volume of low-quality applications. When a trusted platform delivers five pre-vetted candidates, a company will choose that every time over a pile of 300 unreviewed CVs.
How do you access this hidden market?
First, get on the right platforms. Specialist platforms that vet candidates before presenting them to employers are the front door to the hidden market. Your profile on those platforms works for you even when you are not actively looking.
Second, build relationships with people who make hiring decisions. Not just HR — line managers and department heads who know what roles are opening before HR even knows.
Third, approach companies directly. Research organisations you want to work for and reach out before they have a vacancy. A well-crafted, specific speculative approach from a qualified candidate is rarely ignored.
The job seekers who find the best opportunities the fastest are not necessarily the most talented. They are the most visible to the right people at the right time.