Wait, Did Someone Say a Secret Buffet of Jobs?

Jobs aren’t hidden.

Full stop.

Yes, every Aussie jobs report that’s been released in the last decade shows that most positions are advertised.

So why do we still talk about this so-called “hidden job market” like it’s some top-secret buffet of jobs that no one can quite locate?

Cue dramatic pause

Here’s the real hidden part: People love to hire people they know or people referred by someone they trust.

Shocking, right?

I can practically feel your eyebrows hitting your hairline from here, so let me explain:

• You’re 18 times more likely to be hired if you’re referred or already know the hiring manager (say what?).
• Around 80% of teams would rather bring on someone who’s referred.
• And in general, about 40% of hiring managers want referrals above all else.

And that is the real “hidden job market.”

It’s that moment when you—yes, you—get knocked back for a role with a polite, “We went with another candidate,” or “Someone else made it further in the process.”

Sure that mystery candidate might not be a referral, but you’ll never know.

The point is that data backs up the fact people would rather hire someone known than roll the dice on a stranger.

Even if the job’s advertised to the masses.

What’s next, then?

How do you become that someone-who’s-known?

Well, that’s a cracking question—one I’ll answer next week. Let’s just say, you’ll want to stick around for it.

~Lisa

Your Q&A

Escaping the Government Title Trap

Hi Lisa,

I am looking to move out of the government sector into the private sector. My job title is something niche to government. I know I should use more of a mainstream title so people will better understand what I do.

But I’m really concerned about doing this on LinkedIn because I don’t want it to seem like I’m lying. Any suggestions on what’s the best way to add the job titles into LI when you need to tweak them so Private Sector companies will see the match?

Thanks, Markell

​

Hi Markell,

Sounds like you’ve found the best-kept secret in government work—your role isn’t stuck behind 47 acronyms and a labyrinth of red tape.

Lucky you! Now, all that’s standing between you and private-sector glory is the tiny matter of making your LinkedIn title-less, well, “governmenty.”

Here’s my two cents:

1. Go Mainstream but Keep It Real:​
   Pick the private-sector-friendly (a.k.a. “market”) title from LinkedIn’s dropdown—the one that won’t make people scratch their heads. That goes front and centre, so recruiters immediately get what you do. Then, pop your “official” or “actual” government title in parentheses, right beside it. It’s the old “new-school meets old-school” approach.
   ​
2. Tweak the Description:​
   If LinkedIn’s Title field doesn’t give you enough room (because sometimes it’s stingier than a toddler who won’t share their ice cream), weave your official title into the first lines of the description. Throw in a quick story about what you actually do—because trust me, no one in the private sector is going to read a giant block of text. Keep it punchy.
   ​
3. Relax, You’re Not Fibbing:​
   You’re not lying—just adding a dash of translation.

If you start stressing about seeming “dishonest,” remind yourself that you’re just speaking the local lingo. Whether you call it “Public Relations Specialist (formerly Government Communications Officer)” or “Head of Making Red Tape Vanish,” you’re simply bridging the gap so hiring managers actually get what you’re about.

Thanks for Reading

~Lisa​