09/11/2026
Most companies think posting a job means they’re searching the talent market.
But, what if we told you that you are actually only searching about 35% of it?
When you rely heavily on traditional job postings, you’re reaching people who are actively looking for a new job, along with those who are currently unemployed.
But a large part of the market never enters that applicant pool.
There’s the passive talent that isn’t actively searching but could be open to the right opportunity.
And there are people who may not be candidates themselves, but could point you toward someone exceptional.
That matters even more when you’re hiring for leadership.
The person who could make the biggest difference in your business may already be doing good work somewhere else. Afterall, isn't that what you hope for - a successful, thriving candidate? Reality is, those candidates have no reason to spend their evening scrolling job boards.
So when a role sits open and the applicant pool feels weak, it doesn’t necessarily mean the talent isn’t out there.
It may mean the top talent for your role is not actively looking for a new role.
A job posting is merely part of a good hiring process.
It just shouldn’t be the entire hiring process.
And that’s part of a bigger lesson on the people side of growth: The right person is only half the equation.
You also need the right role, the right process, and the right conditions for that person to succeed.
Before deciding the talent isn’t there, it’s worth asking:
Who never had the chance to consider the opportunity?
**Active talent fluctuates regularly, these numbers are a rough estimate**