Ramit SethiRamit Sethi: The No-BS Guide to Living a Rich Life

Job Boards Are Where Careers Go to Die

18 Dec 2025 · 0 min

Watch on YouTube

0:28

Ramit Sethi (speaker) argues that applying through job boards yields low odds—applicants become anonymous line items in applicant tracking systems—and that top performers access a "shadow market" of unposted roles. He prescribes a concrete alternative: pick five companies you want to work for, build connections inside those organizations, and apply via employee referrals to improve your chances.

You're applying to the same jobs as thousands of other people and hoping for the best. And even if you're lucky, you're just becoming another line item in someone's applicant tracking system. These job boards are where average candidates go to die top performers. They don't do it like this. They tap into the shadow market of jobs that aren't even yet posted. So here's what you do instead. Identify five companies you would love to work for. Then build connections inside of those organizations and apply via referrals.