Job Search in Hi-Tech – How to Find the Roles No One Tells You About
Job hunting in hi-tech can be challenging, especially when a competitive market demands creativity and direct access to “hidden” opportunities.
As the founder of the hi-tech recruitment firm OctoSource, I meet many candidates who ask me:
“How do I get access to jobs that aren’t advertised anywhere?”
The reality is that many companies don’t publish all their open roles on the big job boards or even on LinkedIn.
Sometimes they want to save on advertising costs, and sometimes they prefer a more discreet hiring process.
This is exactly where the right tools come in – like the “Actively Hiring” filter on LinkedIn – and the personal support from me and my team at OctoSource.
That filter isn’t just a nice-to-have button.
It’s your way to reach roles other people never see, and to connect directly with decision-makers in the organization. Used correctly, it gives you a step ahead of other candidates, and helps you stand out in a crowded market.
In this article I’ll share practical tips to help you:
- Discover hidden roles
- Reach the right recruiters and hiring managers
- And stay one step ahead of everyone else
Why Aren’t All Roles Published on LinkedIn?
Posting a job on LinkedIn can be expensive.
Many companies prefer to save the cost and use alternative channels, such as:
- Internal postings – roles circulate inside the company’s own network.
- Direct outreach via headhunters – companies work with recruitment firms like OctoSource to find suitable candidates.
- Smaller or niche sites – job ads published in local job boards, professional forums or Facebook groups.
In all these cases, the “Actively Hiring” filter on LinkedIn can help you identify recruiters and reach out to them directly.
What Is the “Actively Hiring” Filter and Why Consider LinkedIn Premium?
The “Actively Hiring” filter is available to LinkedIn Premium users, which costs around $29 per month.
The good news? LinkedIn offers a free one-month trial, so you can test the tool and see if it’s worth it for your job search.
Using this filter, you can:
- Identify recruiters and hiring managers who are actively hiring
- See which roles they’re recruiting for
- Contact decision-makers directly
In a competitive market, that’s a serious advantage.
During the free trial, you can leverage this filter – together with other Premium features – to reach hidden roles and improve your chances of getting hired.
What Do You See in the Screenshot?
In the article’s example screenshot (from LinkedIn’s interface), you can see how the “Actively Hiring” filter is used in practice.
What’s shown:
- Search bar – at the top, where you type the role you’re looking for, e.g. “Software Engineer” or “HR Manager”.
- “Actively Hiring” filter – in the filters section, where you mark only people who are currently hiring.
- Results list – a list of people who match your search: recruiters, HR managers, or hiring managers who are actively hiring right now.
This visual example connects directly to the guide in this article and demonstrates how simple it is to use this filter to discover relevant people and open roles.
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How to Use the “Actively Hiring” Filter – Step by Step
1. Start with a basic search
- In the LinkedIn search bar, type the role or domain you’re interested in, for example:
“Software Engineer”, “HR Manager”, “Marketing Specialist”, etc. - After you hit search, choose “People” (not “Jobs”).
2. Turn on the filter
- Click on the “Actively Hiring” filter.
- Narrow down results by:
- Location – e.g. Tel Aviv, London, New York.
- Roles – within the filter you can target exact roles like:
- Software Engineer
- DevOps
- HR Specialist
3. Review the results
- You’ll now see a list of people who are actively hiring at different companies.
- Click into each profile to see:
- Which roles they mention
- Which teams or domains they’re recruiting for
4. Reach out directly to recruiters
Send a short, focused, personal message. For example:
- Who you are
- Why you’re interested in the role or company
- How you can bring value to their team
How to Write a Message Recruiters Actually Notice
To stand out, your message needs to be short, relevant, and personal:
Start with something personal:
“Hi [Name], I saw that you’re hiring for [role/field]…”
Show the connection:
“I have experience in this domain and I believe I can bring strong value to your team…”
Ask a relevant question:
“Are there any additional openings in this area at your company?”
- Keep it short:
3–4 sentences, max, with a clear point.
What About Classic Job Search?
Of course you can (and should) still use the classic Jobs search with filters on LinkedIn.
But there’s a big weakness:
In many cases, your CV goes into a system (ATS) and disappears among dozens or hundreds of applicants.
The “Actively Hiring” filter gives you a way to step outside the queue and speak directly to the people behind the system.
That’s also why it’s important to adapt your approach based on who you’re writing to:
- If you’re contacting a CEO or CTO, keep your tone very professional, concise, and respectful.
- If you’re contacting an HR recruiter, you can be a bit more direct and casual – and usually it’s better to start with them anyway.
This helps you avoid coming across as “too much” when approaching senior executives directly.
Using Social Media Smartly in Your Job Search
Social networks – especially LinkedIn – can be powerful tools for discovering hidden roles and understanding what a company really needs.
One practical strategy:
Follow recruiters and hiring managers at companies you’re interested in.
Why?
- Many recruiters share posts about open roles
- You see what they care about, what teams they’re building, and what skills are in demand
- Sometimes they mention roles before they hit job boards
How to do it:
- Search for recruiters by title:
Use LinkedIn filters to find Recruiters, Talent Acquisition, HR Managers, Hiring Managers at relevant companies. - Follow them:
Click “Follow” so their posts appear in your feed. - Study their content:
Look at:- What roles they mention
- What skills they emphasize
- How they describe the team or culture
This gives you insider information about what they’re looking for – and helps you prepare smarter messages and interviews.
Why Work with a Recruitment Firm Like OctoSource?
If searching on LinkedIn feels overwhelming, working with a specialized hi-tech recruitment firm can make everything easier.
Advantages:
- Access to hidden roles
We work directly with hiring managers at companies that prefer not to publish roles publicly. - Tailored matching
We align your skills, preferences, and values with the right organizations and teams. - Professional support
We help with:- CV optimization
- LinkedIn positioning
- Interview preparation
- Salary and offer negotiations
Often, we’ll know about a role before it’s anywhere online.
How to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile Before You Reach Out
Before you start sending messages, make sure your LinkedIn profile is ready to be judged:
Strong, focused headline
Make it clear what you do and what you’re aiming for.
Example:“Data Analyst | Specializing in data-driven process optimization & business insights”
- Professional photo
This is your first impression. No pixelated selfies, no party pics. - About section (summary)
In a few lines:- Who you are
- Your core experience
- What you’re looking for
- What you bring to the table
- Relevant keywords
Use role and skill keywords so recruiters can actually find you in search.
Extra Tools That Can Help
- Lusha – to find emails of recruiters or decision makers.
- Hunter.io – another tool for finding contact details.
- LinkedIn itself – sometimes recruiters publish their email in their posts or About section.
Want Even More Job Search Tools?
- Job listings on my site – an updated list of hi-tech roles and related fields.
- About us – learn how we work and how we can support your job search.
- Our blog – in-depth guides to make your job search smarter and more efficient.
Another Route: Career Pages & Company Social Channels
One of the simplest but most underrated ways to discover hidden roles is to start with the company’s official career page.
Before contacting recruiters:
- Spend a few minutes on the company’s Careers page.
- Look for:
- Open roles
- General hiring messages (“We’re always looking for…”)
- Instructions for sending CVs, even for roles not listed
In addition, check the company’s LinkedIn page and posts:
- Recruiters or HR managers often share open roles directly in posts
- Sometimes they give more context than the official job ad
- You also get a feel for company culture, values, and what they emphasize
My recommendation:
- Make a list of companies that interest you
- Review each company’s career page
- Then review:
- The company’s LinkedIn page
- The LinkedIn profiles of their recruiters and hiring managers
- Only then send a targeted, smart message – not a copy-paste text
This combination of career pages + social posts + personal outreach can open doors to roles you’d never see on standard job boards.
Summary
Job searching in hi-tech today requires proactive behavior and smart tools.
The “Actively Hiring” filter on LinkedIn, combined with strategic use of social media and collaboration with a hi-tech recruitment firm like OctoSource, can give you a real competitive edge and lead you to your next role faster.
If you want professional guidance or help finding a role that truly fits you – we’re here for you.
Good luck! 🚀
This article was written by Dikla Alfi, Founder of OctoSource – a boutique headhunting firm specializing in successful placements in the hi-tech industry.