The "Hidden Market": Why the Best Jobs Are Never Advertised
If you are currently looking for a new role in Logistics or Maritime, your morning routine probably looks like this:
Open LinkedIn.
Click "Jobs".
Filter by "Past 24 Hours".
See the same 5 roles you saw yesterday.
Close the tab, thinking, "The market is quiet."
I have some news for you. The market isn't quiet. You are just looking in the wrong room.
In the executive search world, we estimate that 70% of senior and specialist roles are never publicly advertised. They are never posted on LinkedIn. They never appear on Indeed. They do not exist on the company website.
This is what we call the "Hidden Job Market."
Why Do Companies Hide Jobs?
It seems counter-intuitive. If a company wants to hire the best talent, shouldn't they shout it from the rooftops? Actually, no. In the high-stakes world of Shipping and Supply Chain, discretion is often more valuable than volume.
Here is why your dream job isn't online:
1. The "Stealth" Replacement Often, the role isn't empty yet. The person currently in the seat is underperforming, or the company is planning a restructure. The Director cannot post the job ad because the current employee would see it. They need a replacement ready before they pull the trigger.
2. Avoiding the "Flood" If a top-tier shipping firm posts a "Commercial Manager" role, they will receive 400 CVs in 48 hours. 350 of them will be irrelevant. HR departments simply do not have the time to filter through the noise. They prefer to go directly to a Headhunter who can bring them 3 perfect candidates, rather than 400 random ones.
3. Strategy Protection Sometimes, hiring a specific role signals a strategic move to competitors. If a Logistics company suddenly hires a "Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Specialist," they are telling the market they are entering that vertical. To keep their strategy quiet, they keep the hiring quiet.
The "Iceberg" Theory
Think of the job market like an iceberg.
The Tip (Above Water): These are the public job ads. Often these are high-turnover roles, lower-level positions, or roles that are hard to fill because they have issues.
The Base (Underwater): These are the critical, strategic, and high-paying roles. They are filled through referrals, networking, and Headhunters.
If you are only applying to job boards, you are fighting for the scraps with 10,000 other candidates. The real career moves happen underwater.
How to Access the Hidden Market
You cannot apply for a job you don't know exists. So, how do you get into the room?
Stop "Applying" and Start "Networking". Your reputation is your best CV. In our industry, people talk. Be the person they talk about positively.
Optimize your LinkedIn. Recruiters search by keywords (e.g., "Air Freight Director," "Dry Bulk Operator"). If your profile is blank, you are invisible.
Build a Relationship with a Specialist Headhunter. (Yes, like Tetrus).
We are the bridge between the Hidden Market and the Talent. Clients pay us to know who the best operators are before they have a vacancy. When the phone rings for a confidential search, you want your name to be the first one on our list.
The Verdict
Don't mistake a lack of job ads for a lack of opportunity. The best opportunities in 2026 aren't being posted. They are being negotiated in private conversations.
Make sure you are part of the conversation.