Searching For a Job Without Using the Job Boards

PLUS: How to customize your resume, best ways to land interviews, one simple daily action to take on LinkedIn for more engagement, and more!

Author

Hannah Morgan
June 15, 2025

Welcome to Career Essentials, where I share actionable insights and curated articles that will help accelerate your career and supercharge your job search.

Searching For a Job Without Using the Job Boards

We all know about looking for jobs using the job boards, but you may not discover all available jobs, due to a variety of reasons – job openings may only appear on the company’s career site, they may use a job board you aren’t familiar with, or companies may only be posting internally. 

Here are 8 ways to expand your search beyond the job boards. 

Company Career Page

The company’s career page features job postings and you’ll often get a glimpse of their work culture. Don’t stop here. Look for links to the social media platforms the company uses. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles give you the opportunity to learn what the company is up to, discover job postings and the real bonus, to interact with people managing the social media accounts!

Hashtags On Social Media

Try searching Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn for your new job using the job title preceded by the hashtag, for example: #webdesigner, #customerservice or #accounting. You can also try #job to find openings. You will learn which companies use social media to promote jobs.

Instagram

If you are already using Instagram to catch up on your personal interests, then you have seen how companies are using Instagram to connect with customers. Employers are trying to lure future employees using Instagram, too. Go ahead and follow your favorite companies to keep up with their career news.

LinkedIn

Check out the company pages on LinkedIn. You may notice more information about the company culture and the career paths of people in similar roles within their organization. Sure, there's a job board on LinkedIn but build relationships too.

 Facebook

Don’t dismiss this popular network as a source for job announcements. You may find a friend sharing a job opening through a status update on Facebook or a company highlighting a new opportunity on their Facebook page. Facebook groups also serve as a way for recruiters to list new jobs. Look for groups on Facebook relevant to your occupation or industry or perhaps even the city you want to work in.

Industry Associations

Do you belong to a professional association? It's common to see postings for open positions in these groups, forums, websites or newsletters. These associations may have local and national chapters, so check them out.

Talk With People

To beat the odds and stand out as a candidate for a job, start talking to people inside a company before the job is posted. Referred candidates have a much better chance of getting interviewed and hired. Start your search by making a list of people you know and begin networking.

Gig, Freelance, Temporary, Contract, Fractional Work

Either as a side project or to keep your skills fresh, project work is just another option to generate income. And if you do a great job, who knows, the company may hire you. There are so many options today to generate income. 

TIP: Build a Target List

To give your job search and networking efforts focus and to learn about jobs before they are even posted, create a list of companies where you would like to work.

PS: Happy Father’s Day to all you dads or father figures out there!

You aren’t just customizing your resume for the ATS. Humans read them and need to quickly and easily see how you align with the job. If you are not getting interviews, it’s because your resume isn’t working. It takes a bit of work to do this. But follow these 9 steps and measure the results of using a customized resume over what you’ve been doing. 

“[S]ometimes, rejection isn’t about your experience or skills. It’s about timing.” Please read this to understand what the posting date means and why you need to uncover jobs early in the process. 

Gillian addresses some newer research from Ashby on whether referrals make a difference in hiring. Did you know: 

  • Inbound applicants make up 93.8% of applications but just 3% are offered an interview.

  • Referrals: Of those referred, 40% interview rate and 16% offer rate

  • Agency 42% and 8% offer rate

  • Internal applicants: 42% interview rate and 32% get an offer

  • Sourced 25% interview rate and 6% offer rate. 

See Gillian’s recommendations. But I’m sure you can draw your own conclusions by looking at the Asby data.

🤝 NETWORKING

Networking for People Who Hate Networking - The Random Recruiter, LevelUp Careers newsletter

This won’t help you like networking, but it does deliver a solid plan to use to network. First, get your profiles on LinkedIn and X (or another social network) in order- optimize them, make them your 24/7 storefront. Next, post but comment A LOT! Third, target your comments on posts by people you don’t know, but want to meet with. Your comments get you on their radar. Fourth and finally, DM those targeted people with an article or a no-ask conversation starter.   

💻 LINKEDIN

This is just so simple and do-able! And I guarantee you will see more people looking at your LinkedIn profile by following this tip! Find 5 posts to comment on! Make this part of your daily/regular activity on LinkedIn. See why it works and how to actually do it! 

📶 RECRUITER PERSPECTIVE

If you believe AI is taking over the recruitment process, read this. It’s a quick rundown on why AI just isn’t capable of doing everything that needs to get done. Humans are a vital component.

💗 WELL-BEING

Each of these 11 things is proven to make you happier! And a happier you, is a better you! From exercise to practicing gratitude, you’ll find many ways to improve your mental well-being. 

These tips from a minimalist-living coach will help you eliminate “clutter” of all kinds that impact your personal and professional life. A lot of these things will specifically benefit job seekers who are struggling. “To design a life that is focused on the things that matter, we first need to let go of all the things that don’t. Life is too short to allocate our time and attention toward the frivolous and superfluous.”

🚀 PRODUCTIVITY

Everyone needs a good list of books to add to their reading list. If you enjoy learning or challenging your beliefs, add some of these to your summer reading list. 

EVENTS

job search challenge

I’m almost ready to announce dates for the next 5-week Job Search Challenge.

If you want to receive specific assignments each week (with instructions and templates), then stay tuned.

HERE’S WHAT YOU GET EACH WEEK

  • 5 actionable job search goals to move you forward

  • Step-by-step instructions so you never feel stuck

  • Ready-to-use templates, samples, and checklists

  • 30-minute group check-in call on Zoom for accountability and support

  • Delivered straight to your inbox, every Monday

Dates coming soon

JOB SEARCH VISUAL

You built an awesome LinkedIn profile… so why aren’t recruiters reaching out?

👉 Because your profile alone isn’t enough.

💡 The real secret?

Posting status updates that showcase your knowledge, passion, and personality.

People associate you with what you share. And LinkedIn says job seekers who post weekly are 10x more likely to be contacted by recruiters. 🔥

Here are 10 easy post ideas to help you stay visible and valuable:

1️⃣ Share an industry insight
2️⃣ Post news from your target companies
3️⃣ Offer job-related tips or hacks
4️⃣ Ask a question to spark conversation
5️⃣ Use images, infographics or videos
6️⃣ Talk about upcoming professional events
7️⃣ Give kudos or a shout-out
8️⃣ Reshare someone else’s great post
9️⃣ Drop an inspirational or on-brand quote
🔟 Celebrate your wins or milestones

👀 Want to stay top of mind with your network? Start posting!

PS: If you aren't ready to post, then comment on posts written by colleagues, people you want to meet and/or thought leaders in your field.

📌 Save this post to use when you’re out of ideas.

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