Most people compete for posted jobs.

That's the tip of the iceberg. The 20% everyone can see.

The real opportunities? Hidden underneath.

80% of positions never make it to job boards. They get filled through relationships, referrals, or by hiring someone who impressed them before they knew they needed to hire.

While everyone else fights over the same posted roles, smart designers tap into that hidden 80%.

Here's the difference:

Career Chasers wait for job postings. Then compete with hundreds of other applicants for the same role.

Career Creators build relationships before positions exist. They become the obvious choice when companies are ready to hire.

One group reacts to opportunities.

The other creates them.

Why companies don't post most jobs:

Posting attracts volume, not quality. HR gets flooded with applications from people who don't understand the company or role.

It's easier to hire someone they already know. Someone who's demonstrated they understand the challenges.

It's faster to promote from within or hire through referrals than to run a full recruitment process.

Many roles emerge organically. The team grows, needs shift, and suddenly they need someone with specific skills.

What the hidden market looks like:

Design directors mention staffing challenges at industry events.

Hiring managers ask their network for recommendations.

Companies expand teams after successful projects but don't announce it publicly.

Internal referrals happen through conversations, not applications.

Consultants and freelancers get offered full-time positions.

How Career Creators access it:

They build relationships with decision-makers at target companies.

They follow companies they want to work for, not just job boards.

They engage with hiring managers' content and share valuable insights.

They offer help before asking for anything.

They position themselves as industry contacts worth knowing.

Most people fish where everyone else is fishing.

But if you want to catch different fish, you need to fish in different waters.

The hidden job market isn't really hidden.

It's just relationship-based instead of application-based.

Companies hire people they know and trust. People who've already proven they understand the challenges.

When a need arises, they think of people first, not job boards.

The shift in thinking:

Instead of "What jobs are available?" ask "What companies do I want to work for?"

Instead of "How do I beat other applicants?" ask "How do I become someone they already know?"

Instead of "What's my next role?" ask "Who are the people who hire for roles like this?"

The question isn't whether you're qualified for posted jobs.

The question is whether you're building relationships that lead to jobs that never get posted.

Most opportunities don't start with job descriptions.

They start with conversations.

Joseph