How to Get on the Shortlist Before a Role Even Opens
(Why most professionals miss the window that matters most)
“Who’s on your shortlist?”
That’s the first question asked behind closed doors when a new opportunity surfaces.
And if you're waiting until a role is posted to get noticed, you're already too late.
Most decision-makers don’t start from scratch when roles open up. They mentally scan for people they already know and trust. That means opportunities are often spoken for before the rest of the world knows they exist.
If you're not on that mental shortlist, you're already playing catch-up.
The Visibility Paradox
There’s a strange truth no one talks about:
The people most likely to get tapped for new roles are often the ones who seem least in need of them.
Why?
Because they’ve built strategic visibility. They’re on the radar of decision-makers. Their value is known without having to chase attention or leads.
This isn’t about being everywhere or constantly promoting yourself. It’s about being intentional. Being seen where it matters, by the people who matter.
How to Get on the Radar (Before the Job Exists)
Here’s how to position yourself as the obvious choice, long before the opportunity opens.
1. Know Who Holds the Keys and What They Care About
Before you can be top of mind, you need to know who’s making the decisions.
Identify the power players. Look beyond direct hiring managers to senior leaders, cross-functional stakeholders, and trusted influencers in your target companies.
Understand their priorities. What metrics matter to them? What challenges are they vocal about? What wins are they chasing?
Track their movements. Watch company announcements, interviews, and LinkedIn activity. Patterns tell you where attention is shifting.
In my The Stand Out Advantage™ program, clients build a “Decision-Maker Dashboard” to track target companies, leadership changes, and upcoming needs. When change happens, whether through a reorg, fresh funding, or team shifts, these professionals are already a step ahead.
2. Be Useful Before You’re Needed
The professionals who stay top of mind are the ones who offer value with no strings attached.
Make meaningful introductions. Connect decision-makers to people, ideas, or resources that support their work.
Share insights. When you find something that aligns with their interests, send it with a short note.
Anticipate unstated needs. Pay attention to what’s not being said. Solve for pain points they haven’t named yet.
A marketing specialist I worked with noticed a VP of Product frequently discussing challenges with customer feedback loops on LinkedIn. She sent him a brief analysis of how three companies in adjacent industries had solved similar problems. Six months later, when his team created a new customer insights role, she was the first person he contacted.
3. Get Seen in the Right Places
Visibility isn't about showing up everywhere. It’s about showing up with purpose.
Join cross-functional initiatives. Task forces and committees often attract senior attention.
Build platform credibility. Write for industry publications. Speak at events. Engage in communities that matter to your field.
Create “casual collisions.” Be where decision-makers are. Think conferences, industry meetups, or internal visibility opportunities.
You want your presence to signal value, not availability.
4. Make Sure They Hear the Right Story
Your narrative isn’t just what you say. It’s also what others say about you and what your work says on your behalf.
Shape your self-story. Your LinkedIn profile, your intro, and your messaging need clarity and alignment.
Mobilize advocates. Build relationships with people who can vouch for your value when it matters.
Let your work speak. Case studies, measurable impact, and visible wins build credibility you don’t have to explain.
One finance leader I coached deliberately cultivated informal advocates. When a strategic role came up, his reputation worked faster than his resume ever could.
The Power of Intention
Opportunities don’t fall into the laps of the most qualified.
They go to the most visible and trusted professionals, those who plant seeds long before they need to harvest them.
If you want to be top of mind when opportunity strikes, you need to start showing up now.
Turn This Into Action
Choose just three decision-makers in your field and start with this:
Research their goals and challenges
Find one way to create value for each of them in the next 30 days
Build a 90-day visibility plan that puts you in the right rooms
Audit your narrative: What do you say, what do others say, and what does your work say?
You don’t need to network harder. You need to be known for the right things, by the right people, before they’re even hiring.
Want help building your visibility with intention and credibility?
