Most job seekers wait for the perfect role to get posted.
Then they apply. Along with 500 other people.
And they wonder why they never hear back.
But my clients who land roles the fastest? They don't wait. They position themselves at their target companies before the role even exists.
And when the job does get posted, or sometimes before it does, they're already on the recruiter's radar.
Today I'm breaking down exactly how to make this work for you.
First, let's talk about what recruiters actually see.
Most people don't realize this, but LinkedIn Recruiter has a set of filters called "Spotlights" that help talent acquisition teams quickly find high-intent candidates.
These Spotlights flag people who:
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Have indicated interest in the company
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Have connections at the company
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Are more likely to respond to outreach
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Are actively open to work
When a recruiter runs a search, these candidates get surfaced first. They're literally highlighted as people worth reaching out to.
So the question becomes: how do you become one of those Spotlight candidates?
The Target Company Checklist
This is exactly what I walk my clients through when they have a handful of companies they're serious about. It takes maybe 10 minutes per company and it compounds over time.
Step 1: Turn on "Open to Work"
If you're actively searching, turn this on for all LinkedIn members. If you're currently employed and want to be discreet, you can set it to "Recruiters only" — your current company won't see it.
This alone makes you more visible in recruiter searches.
Step 2: Click "I'm Interested" on the company page
Go to the company's LinkedIn page, scroll to the About section, and click "I'm Interested."
This privately shares your profile with the company's recruiters. You'll show up as someone who has expressed interest — one of those Spotlight filters I mentioned.
Step 3: Follow the company
This keeps you in the loop on company news, leadership changes, and — most importantly — job postings that get shared in the feed before they hit the job board.
Step 4: Turn on job notifications
On the company's Jobs page, toggle on job alerts. If you're serious about this company, set it to daily. You want to be one of the first to know when something opens up.
Step 5: Start connecting with people inside the company
This is where the real magic happens.
Look for people in your target department, hiring managers, recruiters, or even peers in similar roles. Send a personalized connection request. Engage with their content. Start building familiarity.
You can do this by going to the People tab on the Company Page and start filtering down by departments, titles, locations, etc. You can see in the image below how using the proper filters and search terms you can take something like the size of Apple (+165k) and get it down to only 65 employees.
Remember: it takes about 7 interactions for someone to feel like they know you. The goal isn't to ask for something right away — it's to build a relationship so that when the time comes, you're not a stranger.
Step 6: Stay active on LinkedIn
Recruiters can filter for candidates who are "more likely to respond" and that's based on activity. If you're engaging, commenting, posting, and showing up consistently, you're more likely to get flagged as someone worth reaching out to.
Why this works
When you do all of these things, you're not just waiting for a job to appear. You're positioning yourself as a warm candidate — someone who's already engaged, already connected, and already on the recruiter's radar.
Several of my clients have gotten a heads-up on roles before they were even posted — because they had built relationships inside the company. That meant they could apply immediately, get a direct referral, and beat the flood of candidates who showed up once the job went live.
That's the difference between chasing opportunities and attracting them.
The bottom line:
If you have 3-5 companies you'd genuinely love to work for, don't just wait and hope. Be intentional. Run through this checklist. Start building visibility and relationships now.
Because by the time the job gets posted, the best candidates are often already in the conversation.
If your LinkedIn profile isn't set up to get found, or your resume isn't landing interviews, I'd love to help.
DM me on LinkedIn and let's talk about getting your resume and LinkedIn updated so they're actually working for you.
You've got this. đź’›
Alyssa
Thanks for reading Rise & Shine by Rise Up Career Coaching.
This newsletter is for high-performing professionals who feel stuck, overlooked, or unsure of their next move — and want a clearer, smarter way to navigate the modern job market.
Here, I share real talk about:
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Getting clear on what you actually want next
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Navigating job searches without mass applying
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Networking in ways that actually lead to conversations
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Interviewing with confidence (even if you’re rusty)
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Negotiating offers without leaving money or opportunity on the table
The job market has changed, but most career advice hasn’t. I’m here to help you stop guessing and start moving forward with clarity and strategy.
I'm here to change that.
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ALYSSA BAILEY is a Certified Professional Career Coach who helps high-performing professionals get unstuck and land roles that match who they are now. With 15+ years of corporate experience, she’s guided clients through career transitions, interviews, and negotiations — helping them turn experience into opportunity.
If you’re done waiting for clarity or the “right time,” this is your sign.
Your next role won’t come from working harder. It comes from having the right strategy.
Let’s make your next move — intentionally.
P.S. If you’ve been thinking about making a change “someday,” remember: clarity doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from action.
Let's make your next move. Contact me today.
To read past Rise & Shine newsletters, you can find them here.
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