Right now, Australia is experiencing a very tight and competitive job market. Competition is fierce, with some advertised roles attracting 300-400 applications! 😮

If you’re relying only on online job ads to secure a role 👩🏾‍💻, you are likely finding your job search challenging and frustrating 🤯. With so much competition, it is an employer’s market.

𝗦𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁?

The answer often lies in the “hidden” job market, a term used to describe jobs that are never formally advertised. Career specialists estimate this makes up 70–80% of all opportunities. While the accuracy of this estimate may be debatable, what is certain is countless roles are filled through networks and relationships 🫱🏼‍🫲🏼, not job ads.

I am a proof of this. For the last 10 years, every role I have secured was through connections, never a job ad. I built trust, nurtured relationships, and showed my value in ways an online application never could🌱

𝗠𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀:

✨ Start building genuine connections well before you need them. Networking should not be viewed as awkward small talk or collecting contacts. It’s about being curious 💡about others, learning their stories, and creating meaningful relationships.

✨ Reframe networking as an opportunity to learn, share knowledge, and support others. When you approach it this way, it feels less like a chore and more meaningful and valuable.

✨Use LinkedIn intentionally:
➡️Follow people in roles, organisations, and industries you admire.
➡️Like and comment thoughtfully on their posts.
➡️Reach out with a short, genuine message of interest. Ask to have career conversations or informational interviews that will further expand your network.

These small, consistent actions build familiarity, trust, and genuine connections. And these connections are often the best way to tap into the hidden job market 🔑