Job applications are a lottery. You're one of 500 resumes getting filtered by software that rejects you for not having the right keywords.

Meanwhile, some people are getting hired without ever applying.

Here's exactly how they're doing it.

Forget HR. Forget the careers page. Go straight to the person who'd actually be your boss.

Here's the play:

1. Find the right person. Go to LinkedIn. Search "[Company] + [Role you want] + Manager" or "Head of." Find whoever runs that team. That's your target.

2. Don't apply. Research. Spend 20 minutes. Read their posts. Find something they've said publicly — a tweet, a podcast, an article. You need one specific thing to reference.

3. Send this DM:

"Hey [Name] — saw your [specific post/podcast/tweet] about [topic]. Really liked your point about [specific thing]. Quick question: I'm trying to break into [field] and I'm curious what skills you'd prioritize if you were starting over today. No pressure to reply — I know you're busy."

That's it. No resume. No pitch. Just a real question from someone who did their homework.

Why this works

Referral candidates get hired at a 30% rate. Regular applicants? 7%.

But here's the thing — you don't need a formal referral. You just need to not be a stranger.

When a hiring manager sees your application after you've already had a conversation with them, you're not "Applicant #347." You're "that person who asked me the good question last month."

Different game entirely.

This one's getting traction right now.

Instead of a cover letter, record a 60-second Loom video. Introduce yourself. Explain why you're interested in the company. Show your personality.

Then email it directly to the hiring manager with a subject line like: "Quick video about the [Role] position — 60 seconds"

Most people won't do this. That's exactly why it works. It's different. It shows effort. And they can see you're a real person, not a template.

One recruiter told me she watches every video she receives because they're so rare. Meanwhile, she skims maybe 10% of cover letters.

What’s next: Archive Alley is booking city pop-ups with local libraries and community radio, and releasing a public prompt deck—questions, beats, transitions—for anyone turning old media into new stories.

This is advanced but it works.

Find a company you want to work for that isn't hiring for your role. Research a problem they have. Build something that solves it — a deck, a strategy doc, a mockup, whatever fits your skills.

Send it to someone senior: "Hey — I put together some thoughts on [problem]. No strings attached, just thought it might be useful. Let me know if you'd ever want to chat about it."

You just demonstrated value before they even knew they needed you. That's how people create roles that didn't exist.

The math

At least 70-80% of jobs are never publicly posted. They get filled through internal moves or referrals before they ever hit a job board.

You can either compete for the 20% everyone sees. Or you can go find the 80% that's hidden.