By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
EP 3124 It is beyond me why you even think of applying for senior roles online.
Master Executive Branding: A Guide for C Suite Professionals
Timestamps
00:00 – The flawed logic of “applying” for senior roles.
00:38 – Where senior applications go to die: The Black Hole.
00:56 – Why the “Best Person for the Job” rarely comes from an application.
01:28 – The Recruiter’s Confession: “We don’t respond to applications.”
01:42 – How top companies actually fill senior roles.
02:14 – Breaking down the Recruiter Playbook: Headhunting and Referrals.
02:33 – Shifting your strategy: From “Better Applicant” to “Being Found.”
02:48 – How to get on the radar of top headhunters.
03:11 – Transforming your LinkedIn profile into a discoverability magnet.
03:30 – Running a “Campaign of Visibility” for your next move.
03:42 – Final Takeaway: Stop applying, start being recruited.
Okay, let’s talk. If you’re a senior professional, you’re probably aiming for a top-tier role, right? And you’re doing what you’ve always done – polishing up that resume, hitting apply on all the big job boards. But what if I told you that entire approach – the one we all think is the right way – is actually completely wrong? Yeah, you heard that right.
That quote is a bit of a bombshell, isn’t it? It’s really the heart of what we’re digging into today – the idea that applying for a senior role is a waste of time. I mean, that sounds crazy. But it comes from someone who’s seen it from the inside, and it just might change how you think about your career.
So does this sound familiar? You pour hours, maybe even days, into crafting the perfect application for a really great senior role. You hit submit, and then… crickets. Nothing.
You’ve just been sucked into what we call the application black hole. And you know what? A lot of senior leaders know that place all too well. We all kind of have this picture in our heads, right? That companies post a job, a flood of amazing applications comes in, and they just pick the best one.
It seems totally logical, it’s how the system is supposed to work. But here’s the thing. For senior roles at the really big companies, it’s a total myth.
So how do we know this? Well, a corporate recruiter who’s worked for some of the biggest companies in the world basically pulled back the curtain on how hiring actually works at that senior level. And her secret? Well, that’s what we’re going to unpack right now. Just let that sink in for a second.
A top recruiter is saying, flat out, that they don’t use job boards or even LinkedIn applications to find their senior people. The reason you’re not hearing back isn’t because you’re unqualified. It’s because they’re not even looking where you’re applying.
Is That Recruiter Legit?
So if they’re just ignoring this mountain of applications, how on earth do they fill these super important roles? Well, they don’t wait for talent to come to them. No, no. They go out and hunt for it.
It’s a completely different game. And when you see it side by side like this, the difference is just, wow. It’s stark.
On one side, you’ve got this passive, reactive world we think they use, job boards, sifting through applications. But on the other side is the reality, a super active, targeted approach built on relationships. It’s all about headhunting, networking, and getting referrals.
This is literally their playbook. They are not sitting there sifting through a digital pile of resumes. Nope.
They are actively hunting for the top performers who are already out there, killing it in their fields. They’re going to their trusted contacts and asking one simple question. Who is the absolute best person you know for this? Okay, so what does this all mean for your strategy? The whole goal shifts.
It’s no longer about being the best applicant. It’s about being the person they find when they start their hunt. So the real question becomes, how do you get on their radar in the first place? It’s really about shifting your energy.
So stop spending endless hours tweaking your resume for every single application. Instead, focus that energy on getting your name out there. You know, maybe that means speaking at industry events, publishing some articles in your field, or just becoming a known voice online.
Deliberately broaden your network. And yeah, you absolutely need a killer LinkedIn profile, but for a reason you might not be thinking of. See, your LinkedIn profile isn’t just a digital resume you attach to an application.
Think of it more like a magnet. It’s a discoverability tool. You need to pack it with the right keywords, showcase your biggest wins, and tell a really compelling story.
So that when a headhunter starts searching for exactly what they need, you’re the person who pops up. So your new job search, especially at the senior level, it isn’t really a search at all. It’s more like a campaign.
A campaign of visibility. It’s all about positioning yourself so that the opportunities find you. This right here.
This is the single most important takeaway. You have to stop thinking of yourself as an active applicant. Instead, start thinking of yourself as a findable asset.
Someone so valuable that top companies want to come and recruit you. Your work, your network, your whole online presence. That’s what’s going to get you hired, not your application.
So I’ll just leave you with this question to think about. Based on the strategy you’re using today, are you going to have to apply for your next great role? Or are you going to position yourself to be asked? The choice really is yours.
Jobs on the Rise According to LinkedIn in 2026
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS Career Advice globally because he makes many things in peoples’ careers
easier. Those things can involve job search,
hiring more effectively, managing and leading better, career transition, as well as advice about resolving workplace issues.
He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with over 3100 episodes.
The Modern Job Search
You will find great info to help with your job search at my new site, JobSearch.Community Besides the video courses, books and guides, I answer questions from members daily about their job search. Leave job search questions and I will respond daily. Become an Insider+ member and you get everything you’d get as an Insider PLUS you can get me on Zoom calls to get questions answered. Become an Insider Premium member and we do individual and group coaching.
Branding. Brandjacking. Build Your Reputation
Also, subscribe to JobSearchTV.com on YouTube and No BS Job Search Advice Radio, the #1 podcast for job search with more than 2700 episodes over 12+ years.in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon Music and almost anywhere you listen or watch podcasts.
You can also have your #jobsearchquestions answered Tuesdays at noon Eastern. Search for Career Coach Office Hours on LinkedIn and mark that you’re attending. You’ll have access to the recording if you miss it live.
The Interview Mistake Too Many Executives Make (And How To Correct It)
Schedule a discovery call at my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us to discuss one-on-one or group coaching with me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TheBigGameHunter
Resume & LinkedIn Profile critiqueswww.TheBigGameHunter.us/critiques
10 LinkedIn Mistakes That Are Costing You Opportunities
We grant permission for this post and others to be used on your website as long as a backlink is included to www.TheBigGameHunter.us and notice is provided that it is provided by Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter as an author or creator. Not acknowledging his work or providing a backlink to www.TheBigGameHunter.us makes you subject to a $1000 penalty which you proactively agree to pay.
