A passive job search is when a job seeker looks for potential job opportunities without actively applying to those jobs. The job seeker browses job boards, company websites, and other resources to find open positions that may be a good fit, but does not submit applications or reach out to employers directly. A passive search allows the job seeker to explore possibilities and learn about opportunities that may interest them for future consideration.
Why do a passive job search?
There are several reasons why a job seeker may take a passive approach to their search:
- They are currently employed but open to new opportunities. A passive search allows employed job seekers to discreetly look at what jobs are available without alerting their current employer.
- To research the job market and see what kinds of roles are available for their skills and experience level. This helps the job seeker get a sense of demand and compensation rates.
- They are not urgently looking for a new job, but open to possibilities. A passive search is a way to casually explore options.
- To identify companies or roles to target for future active job searches. The passive search gives the job seeker time to research potential employers.
- They want to learn about industry trends, tools, and terminology. Browsing job postings is a way to stay up-to-date on skills that employers are looking for.
In summary, a passive job search is an exploratory approach that allows the job seeker to gather information and ideas without the pressure of actively applying for roles right away.
How to conduct a passive job search
Here are some tips for effectively conducting a passive job search:
Set up job search alerts
Sign up for email alerts on major job boards like Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster, etc. Configure the alerts to send you listings that match your skills, experience, location preferences and other criteria. Review the alert emails periodically to stay on top of opportunities.
Follow companies you’re interested in
Identify companies you may want to work for based on your career interests, values and goals. Follow their social media pages, sign up for their email newsletters, and check their careers page for job postings. This will keep you informed about openings, company developments, and employer brand.
Expand your network
Grow your connections on LinkedIn and other professional platforms. Follow relevant industry leaders, join groups, and connect with professionals in your target roles or organizations. This will help surface opportunities and provide insider perspective.
Attend industry events
Look for networking events, trade shows, conferences and seminars related to your field. Attending these allows you to meet professionals in your industry, learn about trends and innovations, and discover companies making an impact in your space.
Set Google alerts
Configure Google alerts using relevant keywords like job titles, skills, companies, industries, etc. Google will email you links to new web pages and mentions that match your parameters, allowing you to easily stay on pulse with what’s new.
Check company websites
Research firms you’d be interested in working for and browse their careers webpage directly. Sign up for job alerts if they offer them. Bookmark pages and revisit every few weeks to check for new openings. This ensures you see roles before they’re posted elsewhere.
Subscribe to job feeds
Many professional associations and niche job boards cater to specific industries, locations or areas of expertise. Find relevant sites for your field and subscribe to their job feeds. This delivers tailored, highly targeted postings right to your inbox.
Follow recruiters
Identify recruiters who place candidates in your function, industry and location. Follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter and engage with their content. Maintaining these relationships ensures they think of you for opportunities.
Pros of a passive job search
Conducting a passive job search offers several benefits:
- Discretion – You can quietly explore without notifying your current employer or committing to active applications.
- Less pressure – Browsing possibilities is less stressful than urgent active applying. You can research at your own pace.
- Preparedness – Passive searching allows you time to flesh out your resume, portfolio, online profiles and other application materials so they’re ready when you do apply.
- Market research – Gives you insider perspective on employer branding, compensation, trends and in-demand skills to refine your focus.
- Future planning – Surfacing potential opportunities early allows you to work toward long-term career goals.
- Expanded horizons – Seeing what’s out there can open your eyes to new possibilities or backup options you may not have previously considered.
Cons of a passive job search
However, there are also some potential downsides of passive searching:
- You won’t get interviews or job offers without actively applying.
- Target opportunities may be filled by the time you decide to apply.
- Requires discipline to stick to passive activities and not drift into active applying.
- Possibility of discouragement if you aren’t fully prepared for the realities of the current job market.
- Passive activities like browsing openings or social media can turn into unproductive time sinks.
Transitioning from passive to active
At some point, you will likely want to transition your passive job search into active applications. Here are some tips to smoothly shift gears:
- Prioritize and shortlist companies or openings you have the greatest interest in.
- Update your resume, portfolio, LinkedIn, and other profiles to optimize them for submitting applications.
- Reach out to connections at target companies to inquire about unadvertised opportunities.
- Set concrete applying goals – e.g. submit 2 applications per week or apply to 10 targeted openings per month.
- Schedule time on your calendar specifically for active applying to maintain momentum.
- Leverage recruiting firms, staffing agencies or professional networks to access additional opportunities.
- Follow up diligently after submitting applications to build relationships with hiring managers.
The key is to be strategic and purposeful once you make the switch from passive to active job seeker. Let your passive activities guide your focus and priorities. Continue networking and maintaining your online brand while actively applying.
Should you take a fully passive approach?
In most cases, taking an entirely passive approach to your job search is not advisable over an extended period of time. Here are some risks of staying passive too long:
- You miss out on applying for openings that are good fits and aligned with your target companies or roles.
- Hiring processes take time. The longer you wait to apply, the longer it extends your timeline for landing a job.
- Strong opportunities get scooped up quickly. Remaining passive indefinitely means you’ll keep missing good options.
- Out of sight, out of mind. If you don’t actively apply, you won’t stay top of mind with recruiters and hiring managers.
- You lose motivation over time without forward momentum and active applying.
Maintaining some level of active effort, even if minimal, helps avoid these downsides. You might commit to leveraging your network for informational interviews, or apply to just a handful of roles per month. This balances active and passive efforts.
Tips for an effective passive approach
If you do decide to primarily focus on passive activities in your search, keep these tips in mind:
- Set a time limit, such as 3-6 months, and stick to it. Don’t let passive searching turn into perpetual procrastination.
- Structure your passive efforts with goals and tracking to maintain discipline and focus.
- Leverage tools like Google Alerts and job boards alerts so interesting opportunities get pushed to you automatically on an ongoing basis.
- Connect passive insights to active steps. For example, if you identify an appealing company, take the next step of following their social pages or setting up a search alert on their site.
- Attend networking events, conferences and info interviews focused on target companies or industries so you build relationships even without directly applying for roles.
- Follow up with contacts periodically to remain top of mind. Mention you’re open to new opportunities and would appreciate their insights on the market.
Passive Activity | Active Counterpart |
---|---|
Setting up job search alerts | Applying to jobs that match your alerts |
Researching companies you’re interested in | Following up with contacts at those companies |
Building your network and connections | Asking your network for informational interviews |
Attending industry events | Collecting business cards and contacting attendees |
Subscribing to industry email lists and feeds | Applying to openings posted on those platforms |
Blending passive and active efforts
The most effective approach is usually a blend of passive research and intelligence gathering combined with active steps to network and apply. The two strategies complement each other.
For example, you might:
- Set up alerts for openings at your target companies, then directly apply to the postings that are strong matches.
- Meet industry peers at events and conferences, then connect with them on LinkedIn and schedule informational interviews.
- Follow hiring managers you identify at target firms on social media, then reach out directly about their needs.
- Subscribe to niche job boards in your sector, then apply to appealing postings curated to your specialization.
Integrating some amount of active effort and direct interaction – even when your primary focus is passive intelligence gathering – will produce the strongest results in your search.
Conclusion
A passive job search approach allows you to discreetly explore opportunities and be strategic in your efforts. While remaining completely passive indefinitely is rarely advisable, incorporating some passive activities as a complement to active applying can be highly beneficial.
With the right balance, you can stay plugged into the employer landscape and on top of openings relevant to your experience. But also move your search forward by actively networking, applying and interviewing. This positions you for job search success.