Why Resumes Don’t Get You Hired
Behind closed doors, jobs are filled quietly through networks and referrals. Here’s how to join that world and land roles before they’re posted.
As a hiring manager with experience at Amazon and Microsoft, I know firsthand how the best jobs are actually filled.
It’s not through job portals or blasting out resumes. The strongest candidates almost never came in through a cold application, they arrived via networks, referrals, or quiet recommendations long before a role was posted.
By the time most jobs hit LinkedIn, someone’s name is already penciled in. That’s why mass applying is one of the weakest ways to land your next role.
Here are the three steps top candidates quietly use to get hired before a job is ever posted.
1. Get Laser Focused
Before you send another resume, get crystal clear on the next role you actually want.
Ask yourself:
Location: Where do you want to live and work?
Work style: Remote, hybrid, or fully in-office?
Compensation: What salary or equity makes this move worthwhile?
Company size: Do you thrive in a startup, mid-sized firm, or large corporation?
Once you have that vision:
Research requirements: Browse company career sites and study job descriptions for your target role.
Assess your fit: Aim to meet roughly 70% of the qualifications for mid-level roles and closer to 90% for senior positions.
Finally, right-size your expectations:
If you meet 95% or more, you might be underselling yourself—target a bigger challenge.
If you meet less than 60%, it’s probably too far a stretch for now.
This clarity is what separates strategic career moves from reactive job hunting.
2. Work Your Network Early
When you have the privilege of time, remember: hiring decisions are made by people, not algorithms.
When I was running hiring panels, it was rare for someone to show up cold and win a role. The people who succeeded had someone on the inside saying, “You need to meet this candidate.”
Think of it like dating: nobody shows up to a first date, hands over a resume, and asks for a wedding date. Don’t be that person in your job search.
How to Build Warm Connections
Start warm: Talk to friends, family, or past coworkers at companies you’re curious about.
Tap alumni: People from your school or past employers are usually happy to help, especially if you’re polite and specific.
Join the club: Industry communities, niche Slack channels, and professional associations surface roles before they hit job boards.
Show up online: Posting one thoughtful comment or post on LinkedIn a week beats sending 50 blind applications.
If You’re Short on Time
When you can’t afford months of networking, at least avoid sending your resume in the first message.
Instead of attaching your resume right away, send a short, human note to a hiring manager or insider:
“Hi [Name], I’m interested in [Role] because of [specific reason]. I’d love to understand what challenges the team is solving right now and where someone like me could help.”
It’s like asking for coffee before proposing marriage, it works better every time.
3. Close the Deal (Only After the First Two)
Once you’ve clarified your target and built real relationships, then you apply.
At this point, you’re not a random resume in a stack. You’re the candidate someone is already hoping will apply.
The posting is just a formality.
Why This Works
Referrals float to the top: Hiring managers open referred candidates first.
You bypass the algorithm: Applicant tracking systems (ATS) can’t screen out someone the VP already knows by name.
You’re not competing blind: By talking to insiders, you’ve already learned what the hiring team actually cares about (most candidates never know this).
What to Do Differently
Use the job portal as the last click, not the first.
Send your resume knowing the hiring manager has already heard about you.
When they read your cover note, it’s more “I know this person” than “Who is this applicant?”
Put it Into Action
When you finally click Apply, it shouldn’t feel like a gamble. It should feel like a confirmation: someone inside already knows your name, the ATS can’t filter you out, and the hiring manager has already decided you’re a fit.
Stop starting with applications. Define your target, build real relationships, and then—only then—send your resume. The best careers are built through conversations, not job portals.
In upcoming posts, I’ll show you exactly how to start those conversations, get referred, and land interviews before a job is ever posted.
Rooting For You,
Justin
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