3 Strategies Top Performers Use to Attract Job Opportunities Without Applying
The visibility strategy behind passive recruiting and executive positioning
You’ve done the work.
You’ve earned the trust.
Inside your company, you’re known as someone who delivers.
Getting noticed at work is great.
That was my thinking too until I started reflecting on my most career-defining work.
They didn’t come from my immediate circle.
They showed up unexpectedly and often when I wasn’t even looking.
Here’s what that taught me:
Getting seen internally opens one door.
Getting seen externally opens all the rest.
Getting noticed outside of work? That’s where the game changes.
The best roles don’t always get posted.
They’re shared through conversations, passed along by referrals, and driven by reputation.
When they surface, they often come from someone outside your team, outside your company. Outside your radar.
So how are you staying top of mind for the opportunities you can’t even see yet?
Because if you’re not visible when those opportunities arise, you’re not in the running.
Why this matters
If you’re only known inside your company, you risk:
Being passed over for stretch roles and cross-industry opportunities
Missing out on inbound interest from recruiters, collaborators, and decision-makers
Missing the compound returns of reputation, while others build theirs in plain sight
This isn’t about self-promotion.
It’s about making sure your value is visible where decisions are being made.
Here are 3 smart moves top performers use to attract opportunities.
Move 1: Make Your Thinking Visible
Why It Matters: The most compelling opportunities don’t always go to strong executors. They go to those who bring fresh perspective and strategic clarity.
What Most People Do: They share their sharpest thinking in meetings, decks, or Slack. However, the ideas stay behind closed doors.
What Top Performers Do: They share insights, reflections, and mental models that show how they think and signal how they lead.
✅ Your Move: Post one short insight this week that starts with:
“One thing I’ve learned leading through [challenge] is…”
Move 2: Be Easy to Recommend
Why It Matters: Your reputation often precedes you and it can shape what opportunities come your way next.
What Most People Do: They lean on job titles or jargon that sound important though don’t convey what matters most.
What Top Performers Do: They use sharp, specific language that makes it easy to refer, recommend, and remember them.
✅ Your Move: Refine your one-liner: “I help [who] do [what] so they can [result].”
Move 3: Don’t Wait to Be Found
Why It Matters: The best opportunities don’t appear on job boards. They emerge through networks, relationships, and relevance.
What Most People Do: They stay passive, hoping to be discovered instead of creating momentum.
What Top Performers Do: They build relationships on purpose. They start smart, relevant conversations that build trust and credibility over time.
✅ Your Move: Message someone this week with: “Your take on [topic] raised an important point I’ve been tracking as well—how are you seeing [X] evolve?”
The Bottom Line
You don’t need to be everywhere.
You don’t need to do more.
You need to be intentional about where and how you show up.
💬 Ask yourself:
If you left your company tomorrow—would anyone outside know the kind of leader you are, or the value you bring?
External positioning isn’t about attention.
It’s about making sure the right people can find you, understand your value, and advocate for you—before you even know you’re being considered.
🚀 Your Next Move
When you're ready to position yourself for what’s next, here are two ways I can help:
👉 Join the 5-Day LinkedIn Messaging Challenge - free access
Build visibility that leads to real opportunities by showing up with clarity, consistency, and intent.
🧰 Get the Leadership Strategy Toolkit
Built for ambitious professionals ready to be a more strategic and influential leader.
Go for it!
Joselle
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