Hey Dear,

There’s a very high chance that at some point in your career, you’ve heard that not all jobs are advertised.
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And maybe you even know someone who got hired “out of nowhere.”
The company wasn’t hiring, there were no open roles, but the timing and the match were too good to ignore.

That’s not a fairytale.
That’s exactly what happened to me.

The birthday party that turned into a job offer

Back in the days when I was still doing recruitment directly for game studios, I got a job that was never posted anywhere.

I was at a birthday party for a guy who was the husband of a friend of my partner at the time (yes, I know, I had to think about it three times).
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We’d met a few times before, and since he ran a gaming studio, we always ended up talking about games.

This time was no different. He showed me a new build of their game, and from one word to another, he mentioned they were in a growth phase and looking for a recruiter.

I was like, ooo interesting, tell me more!

What followed wasn’t an official interview, but it certainly felt like one. He asked a few questions about their toughest roles and how I would approach searching for those people. He tested my knowledge of the market.
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Luckily, I had just finished a deep dive into local studios for my employer at the time (we were hiring on-site, so we needed info about local studios), so I knew exactly what I was talking about.

We agreed to meet the rest of the founders next week.
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They offered me the job on the spot.
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In fact, I started helping them before my official start date. Still remember running recruitment processes from the passenger seat of a car while going on a weekend off, as they needed someone quickly.

That’s the hidden job market in action.

So what is the hidden job market, really?

There are many myths surrounding it, and some are simply nonsense.

You’ve probably seen claims that 70% or even 80% of all jobs are never advertised.
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Let’s be clear: that’s bullshit.

It benefits no one to hide a job.
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Every extra pair of eyes on a job post increases the chance of finding that one right person.
And recruitment has many flaws, but one great thing about it is that you only need one person to close the process.

But yes - some roles are filled quietly.
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Here’s when that happens:

1. When someone’s about to be replaced, and the company can’t go public yet (mostly because the person does not know they are on the way out)
2. When they’re not actively hiring, but the right person suddenly becomes available. They just met them a couple of times and remembered they might be useful in the future.
3. When hiring happens through referrals or recruiters’ private networks.

So the "hidden" part is not about secrecy.
Honestly, it's more about efficiency.

How the hidden job market really works

The hidden job market is a mix of timing and visibility.
It’s not about secret job listings - it’s about being known before the opportunity exists.

One of the things I always say about navigating the job market in general:

Because when a new role appears, hiring managers think in names - not job titles.
The question is: whose name comes to their mind first?

And the more often your name shows up in those “Hey, do you know someone who could…?” conversations, the better your odds of being that person.

How to navigate the hidden job market

"Ok Patryk, so how do I tap into this market so I maximise my chances of being that person?"

My Dear, it's great that you've asked.

Here’s how to make yourself discoverable before the opportunity exists:

1. Start by mapping your target companies​
   Focus on where you’d want to work - even if they’re not hiring. So many people ignore this simple step, but knowing what places are for you is the key.
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2. Connect with the right people​
   Leads, hiring managers, potential team members - honestly, anyone who can potentially influence your ability to get your foot in the door. An important thing here is that they do not have to be direct decision makers. It might be someone from your potential future team who can push your application forward.
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3. Show up where they are​
   Comment thoughtfully, share ideas, and get into conversations. Yes, it does require time and attention. No, there's no shortcut here.
   Golden rule to remember here: Be visible without being pushy.
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4. Give value first​
   Share insights, resources, or encouragement. Relationships start with contribution, not requests. Also, people really just hate when someone reaches out of the blue and immediately asks for a favor.
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   #protip - when we talk about "giving value", it doesn't have to be some 100-page doc you created on their life. Even a simple message, you read something they've written and you enjoyed it and agree (or have a different perspective!) works. It works because giving your attention and time to someone's work is already valuable for most creators. Telling this from experience - every comment, reply, email back I receive regarding my work is just fantastic acknowledgement someone's actually reading this stuff.
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5. Stay consistent​
   The hidden job market rewards discipline and playing the long game.

The hidden job market isn’t really hidden.
It’s just invisible to those waiting for an official posting.

The rest - those who stay visible, connected, and consistent - are already interviewing at birthday parties.

That's all from me today.
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My Dear, I wish you a fantastic day,
Patryk

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PS - if you have found the job this way let me know by replying to this email - I'd love to read your story.
I read all of them and reply to them personally :)