Why Executive Roles Are Not Posted on Job Boards…and What to Do

July 21, 2025

Most executive roles are not posted on job boards, which means the best opportunities are often missed by even the most qualified leaders.

By Keiva Ditchfield-Agboh

If you’re an experienced executive exploring the next chapter in your career, you’ve likely noticed a pattern. While leadership roles are posted online, the most strategic opportunities, the ones tied to transformation, influence, or enterprise growth, rarely appear on job boards.

That’s because many of these roles aren’t publicly posted. In fact, some aren’t even formally created yet. They emerge through conversations when a unique leadership need is identified, and the right candidate articulates a vision that aligns with it.

This dynamic landscape is what we call the unpublished market: a strategic arena where executive hiring happens quietly, through trusted networks, intentional positioning, and well-timed outreach.

If you’ve been applying to posted roles without traction, it’s not a reflection of your abilities. It’s a sign that you may be looking in the wrong part of the market.

This article will help you understand:

Why the most compelling leadership opportunities bypass job boards
What hiring really looks like at the executive level
How to engage with decision-makers before roles are public
And most importantly, how to stop waiting—and start stepping into opportunities aligned with your value and vision

The Truth About Executive Hiring

Executives often share a familiar range of frustrations with us, from going through multiple interviews only to be ghosted, to feeling completely adrift in the job search process, not knowing exactly what they want to do next, or submitting application after application without a single call back.

Executives often come to us feeling stuck, whether they’ve been through multiple interviews with no follow-up (ghosted), applied to dozens of roles with no response, or are simply unclear on what comes next.

One former client, Victoria Sydorowicz, who ultimately secured a role as Comptroller, described it well: “I thought it would be a good time to look for a job, but the number of resumes I was competing with was huge! I’d see a job pop up and within two days it would have 1400 applicants”.

These challenges are not only valid and more common than most people realize but they also point to a deeper truth. At the executive level, the hiring process operates differently. Companies don’t always broadcast their leadership needs. Sometimes, they do not even readily realize that there was an internal need for support. Hence, many roles are filled long before there’s ever a job description.

Through a variety of methods, companies often identify leadership needs quietly, tapping trusted networks or reaching out directly to candidates who align with their strategic goals. A recent Wall Street Journal article, noted that a role with 983 applicants was ultimately filled by someone who didn’t apply online at all and that while referrals account for just 5% of applications, they lead to 50% of hires.

Employers Avoid Advertising High-Level Roles

There are strategic reasons why organizations choose privacy over publicity when filling senior roles:

Confidential restructuring: Leadership changes are often tied to sensitive organizational transformations.
Reputation management: Broadcasting C-suite vacancies can signal instability.
Cost efficiency: Managing thousands of irrelevant applications consumes time and budget.
Competitive positioning: Keeping intentions quiet preserves market advantage.

While job boards serve a purpose, they only show a narrow slice of what’s actually available and often, when it’s too late.

So the real question becomes, how do you position yourself to be the right leader at the right time, before a role is ever posted?

The Unpublished Market: A Gateway to Real Executive Opportunities

If top roles rarely make it to job boards, then the most successful executive searches don’t start with an application. They start with strategy.

Accessing the unpublished market requires a different approach. One built on clarity, positioning, and timing. This isn’t about chasing listings. It’s about showing up in the right conversations before a role even exists.

Here are three principles that make the difference:

1. Define your leadership value clearly and confidently

What is your value proposition? Executives who gain traction in this space know how to communicate the impact they deliver, not just the responsibilities they’ve held. They translate their story into language that resonates with today’s business needs, especially in moments of transition, growth, or change.

2. Elevate your visibility, strategically

It’s not about being everywhere. It’s about being relevant in the right circles. This may include cultivating relationships with decision-makers, enhancing your digital presence, or leveraging targeted outreach that aligns with your next move.

3. Spark conversations before opportunities are visible

Some of the most successful landings we’ve seen at The Barrett Group weren’t about fitting into a role, they were about shaping one. Our clients regularly initiate conversations that lead to interviews, advisory roles, and even brand-new positions designed around their expertise.

The truth is, you don’t need to wait for a job posting to move forward. But you do need a roadmap for navigating a market that operates largely behind the scenes.

Don’t Wait for the Right Role to Appear

At the executive level, opportunity isn’t something you stumble upon. It’s something you help shape with the right tools, support, and process.

This is where The Barrett Group comes in. We are a dedicated career management partner, working exclusively for you, the executive client. We don’t represent companies or fill openings on their behalf. Our focus is on your success and alignment at every step.

Through our proven 5-step methodology, we guide executives to:

Build a powerful personal brand that aligns with your goals and value
Access the market through expanded social capital, meaningful research, and strategic outreach
Prepare for interviews and negotiations with precision and confidence
Onboard successfully to ensure long-term fit and impact

With more than 30 years of experience, we’ve helped thousands of executives transition into roles that weren’t advertised but were aligned with their purpose, leadership, and potential.

Explore some of their stories.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

The next opportunity may not be posted but it can be created through the right positioning and support.

Schedule a private executive consultation to explore how our process can help shape your next chapter.