How to Find Hidden Remote Jobs 

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Hi, my freelance friends and aspiring remote workers!

It is another beautiful day, and I hope you are still keeping your dreams alive. There is no giving up because you are a few clicks away from landing a remote job/freelance gig. 

Today, we will discuss How to Find Hidden Remote Jobs. 

Let’s get started.

Why Are There Hidden Remote Jobs?

Just like onsite jobs, there are reasons why a good number of remote jobs are hidden. Unlike what you might think…it is not necessarily because these employers are mean and just like job seekers to suffer (even if it feels like that Lol).

Some employers don’t make their job vacancies public because;

  1. They don’t want to spend money advertising openings on job boards without the assurance of getting high-quality candidates.
  1. They prefer to rely on referrals instead of going through the stress of sorting through hundreds and thousands of resumes. (This part is not fun for them at all).
  1. They may want to let go of an existing staff member and fill up the position without making it public (their reputation is on the line here, and they would rather keep it).
  1. Many employers rely on attracting job applicants directly through their website or social media channels. Some feel like, what’s the use of having these assets if they can’t use them? So, it becomes a situation of … if you know, you know. (winks). 
  1. Sometimes, the reason can be a simple “time gap”. There can be a little gap between when the company posts the job opening on its website and when it starts pushing or advertising these vacancies. You can take advantage of this and become an early bird.

These are some of the popular reasons some companies don’t restrict the visibility of their jobs to just ATS sites or at best their company websites. Nonetheless, smart job candidates have discovered creative ways to dig up these jobs, to the surprise of these employers. 

In this article, I will show you how to excavate these jobs using Google, Cold Emailing, and Social Media platforms.

How to Find Hidden Remote Jobs Using Google

There are two ways to find unseen remote jobs using Google. Let’s take a look at them.

Method 1:  Use a simple search term that includes your skill and key phrases. 

Key phrases like “hiring”, “Looking for”, “Seeking”, etc. So, you will have combinations like; “hiring content writer”, or “looking for graphics designer”, etc. 

Now, you can be creative with your search terms and play around with the keywords. Go over the results to see what interests you ( I will recommend you skip results from job boards and freelance marketplaces.)

It is best to focus on results from company websites or agencies. 

Note: This requires patience. That is because you will go through the results one after the other. Patience and resilience are the keys to finding remote jobs (especially unseen ones).

This is method one. It is simple. It can also be tiring because the level of search might not equate to your discovery, but it is worth trying. 

How does this method work?

This method works because Google is a search engine. In that capacity, it will crawl every indexed website (that includes) the search term you used (e.g. “hiring content writer”) and display the results. 

Do you remember we discussed some employers simply post job openings on their websites? Yes, this is one way to find them out. 

You can take it a step further by applying some filters. You can input your search term, then go to “tools” on Google and then filter by “Location”, “Date posted” etc. This will reduce your search time and make it more direct. 

Setup an Alert

You can also set up an alert.

To do that; 

  1. Visit the Google Alerts Page

Go to www.google.com/alerts.

  1. Enter a Search Term

In the search box, type a phrase like:  “content writer”, or ‘virtual assistant’ depending on what you’re looking for.

  1. Customize Your Alert Settings

Click on “Show Options” to tailor the alert to your needs:

Frequency: Choose how often you want to be notified—options include “As-it-happens,” “At most once a day,” or “At most once a week.”

Sources: Select from news, blogs, the web, videos, books, discussions, or finance.

Language & Region: Specify the language or geographic location for more targeted results.

Set Your Email Address

Provide the email address where you’d like to receive updates.

  1. Create the Alert

Click “Create Alert,” and you’re all set!

Suggested Keyword Combinations for Alerts

Here are keyword ideas to help you track content writer opportunities or related news:

Basic Combinations

  • Remote content writer
  • Social Media Manager Contractor
  • Graphics Designer (Remote
  • Hiring Remote Accountant

Now, you can stay updated on job postings: Get notified about content writer positions at Breezy HR as soon as they’re announced.

What else can you do with Google alerts?

  1. Track Industry Trends: Monitor news about content writing or related fields to stay informed and competitive.

With Google Alerts, you’ll have a proactive approach to finding your next remote job or freelance contract. 

Phew! Method 1 appears to be quite long. Well, it is worth it. Let us go over to the next method.

Method 2: Use search operators in the search box to find hidden remote positions.

In case you don’t know what they are, Search Operators are advanced tags you use to search Google to filter the results systematically. They can be somehow technical to use but this tool right here makes them easy for you to use

Before we go right into using search operators in the search box to find hidden remote jobs, we first have to identify the major players in this process… HR/ Recruitment/Hiring platforms. 

Have you ever applied for a job and been redirected to another website to fill out an application form? Yes, these are the companies we are talking about. They usually handle the application process for many companies for different roles (including remote positions).

So, we will try to scrape all the jobs related to the ones we are searching for that have passed through these companies. Unsurprisingly, there are a lot. 

This method allows you to apply for jobs that are not getting many applications. This significantly reduces the competition by a lot (up to 50% or more).

Now, we will dig up hidden remote jobs from these ATS websites (HR, recruitment tools, etc.). 

Let’s get started. 

Step 1: Choose an ATS website/ tool to target.

Below is a list of the most popular ones.

✨ Breezy HR (https://breezy.hr/)

🌟 GreenHouse (https://www.greenhouse.io/)

💼 Jazz HR (https://www.jazzhr.com/)

🚀 Jobvite (https://www.jobvite.com/)

🌐 Lever (https://www.lever.co/)

🔍 Recruitee (https://recruitee.com/)

📋 Workable (https://www.workable.com/)

🖇️ Zoho Recruit (https://www.zoho.com/recruit/)

2. Use this Google Search Operator Builder to search

 If you were looking for remote content writing jobs on Greenhouse this is what you’d do.

  1. In the keyword input, type ‘content writing remote’
  2. Under Site, enter ‘http://jobs.greenhouse.io’

The search builder would build something like this – site:http://jobs.greenhouse.io content writing remote

Just click on it and you’ll see the jobs you’re looking for.

I would also do the same if I wanted to search for a content writing job on Breezy.hr

site: http://breezy.hr content writing remote.

Sometimes, the result you get might be stale. Maybe that job has been there for a long time. We can fix this by filtering our search by date/time. We can do this using the “tools” feature on Google for more recent job postings.

The Google Search Operator Builder also has the option to choose date range.

By running these searches, Google will pull up all the companies using that specific ATS site or subdomain with open remote content writing roles.

The trick is pretty simple—it follows this format:

site:[ATS subdomain] [your specialty/industry] remote

Look at how many job openings are posted on a platform like BreezyHR. It’s worth exploring!

Important Note

  1. You can do this with as many ATS websites as you can find. I will also advise that you bookmark these searches for easy access. 
  1. When you find jobs you are interested in, copy the details of the jobs (website, email, summary, position, etc,) and add them to a sheet. This will enable you to apply to the jobs at your own pace. Also to set priorities for your applications. 
  1. Identify the jobs you best fit for and apply to them using a specialized tailored cover letter and CV. Then apply to the ones you are not so sure of using your standard cover letter and CV. 

You can also use the Google search method creatively. You can find pages similar to the URL you have used, search pages you have used, and customize your search settings. 

How to Find Hidden Remote Jobs Using Social Media Platforms 

Social media platforms are not restricted to updating people about specific events in your life (most times, they don’t care…). 

You can use social media platforms like Twitter (now X) and Facebook to find hidden remote jobs. 

Let’s start with Twitter.

How to Find Hidden Remote Jobs Using Twitter (X)

X is an interesting social media platform for finding hidden remote jobs because, many thought leaders like to share their experiences and build in public (especially people in the US, UK, etc.).

Connect with Thought Leaders in Your Industry

Now, here is the deal. 

When you follow these thought leaders, you will be in the loop of things they are up to including current tasks, new businesses/projects, available job openings, etc. 

Connecting with this set of people will not only help you learn, but you will have the opportunity to network and establish yourself in their circle. Making useful and valuable contributions, and asking reasonable questions can soon help you announce your presence and your skillset. 

This will also help you understand the market trends in real-time. 

For example, as a content writer, I will search and follow niche website owners, owners of writing agencies, thought leaders in content marketing, etc. 

This is not the time to follow your fellow struggling content writer…really, there is not much for you in that relationship. (You are not selfish, you just need a remote job).

Now, this is one method. Let us go to the second method.

Use Advance Search  Operator for X

Just the same way you used advanced search operators for the ATS, you can use them to search on X as well for openings related to your job.

For instance:

site:http:x.com content writing remote

Again, the Google Search Operator Builder can help you.

Stay organized by bookmarking these search results for quick access and ongoing updates.

Using this method alongside Google search operators and tracking job announcements directly from ATS platforms can quickly help you dig up those hidden jobs. 

I will refer to this approach as a hybrid one. Will I recommend this? Yes, I would. That is because it is a great way to go if you don’t want to miss out on unpopular remote job opportunities. 

How to Find Hidden Remote Jobs Using Facebook

I know you are surprised. Yes, Facebook, you read it right. Before you hiss and roll your eyes, hear me out. This might just be the big break that you need. 

Now, we are going to do things differently. You won’t search for remote jobs on Facebook unless you don’t mind getting scammed (just kidding).

For Facebook, these hidden remote jobs are usually on Facebook Groups. Most times (if not all), these groups are closed. You can’t join this group if you don’t have access. 

So, how do you find these groups?

The best strategy for finding and joining these meaningful groups is to pay for tools. This strategy requires you to spend some money, it is usually nothing expensive. A few dollar bills won’t hurt.

Look at it this way, is $10, $15, or even $30 too much to invest into landing a remote job that will pay you thousands of dollars? (Don’t get confused, I will explain better).

For example, If you are a content writer, you want to research to discover tools your target clients use (in this case “niche site owners”). Most niche site owners will use tools like Ahref, and Exploding topics, just to name a few. 

When you discover the ones that most of them use (and you can find this out by following them on X). Now, you also will pay for this tool even if it is the lowest package. Just make sure the package you are paying for will include adding you to their community. 

When you are added to the community (which is usually a Facebook group, you can start to learn from them, contribute, etc.). 

I know you are starting to get angry. This is not where it stops.

Since most of the members in these groups are website owners, they will require the service of a good SEO content writer. Most times, they simply post that they need a content writer and want people in the community to recommend someone, etc. You can respond by sending a DM to that person including Your portfolio.

Now, if you are like my best friend who can’t wait for things to happen naturally, you can take the straightforward old-fashioned route of saying …

Hi, I am ___ a content writer with 100 years of experience writing SEO articles for blogs, I am open to work in case anyone is interested. 

Simple, then wait and see blog owners flocking to your DM. 

It sounds unbelievable, but this is how it works (at least most of the time). And I will tell you why. 

They know you, They know you understand the market… (duh, that is why you are in the group in the first place). 

Most importantly, They can somewhat trust you because they have established “some form of” relationship with you being in the same group as them.

This method reduces competition because you are one of the 1% of job seekers who will pay for a tool. If you are a Nigerian or African, this is a sure way to eliminate others from the competition. 

Do you know why?

It is simple, Nigerians (Africans by extensions) don’t like to pay for anything. They will always go for the free version regardless of the benefits. At the mention of pay, these sets of people disappear (like vanish into thin air).

The funny thing is, you might not even need to pay sometimes, Some of these tools allow you to enjoy some of these benefits during your trial period. You can decide to make the most of this time. 

Even if you have to pay, it is worth every penny…This might be your cue to normalize paying for things (I come in peace). 

How to Find Hidden Remote Jobs Using Cold Email

Cold emailing for hidden remote jobs doesn’t have to feel like throwing darts in the dark—let’s turn it into a strategic (and slightly fun) game plan!

Let’s go. 

Step 1: Build Your Hit List (With a Twist)

First things first: know thy target. But instead of guessing which companies might “be hiring”, let’s use Upwork. Yes, Upwork. Before you roll your eyes and mutter, “Freelance marketplace? Really?”—hear me out.

Upwork isn’t just for gig hunting; it’s a goldmine for discovering companies actively hiring for your skills. 

These are your ‘ready-made’ leads because they’re already looking for talent like you. Filter by job postings that fit your expertise note the companies, and voilà—you’ve got a list of potential employers without the guesswork.

This approach skips the frustration of cold emailing random businesses and gives you a head start with companies who are hiring. Win-win, right?

Step 2: Stock Up Your Research Arsenal

Okay, now you have your hit list. Next, it’s time to get nosy—but in a strategic way. Use directories like AngelList, LinkedIn, or even company websites to gather intel. You’re looking for:

  • Who’s the hiring manager?
  • What’s the company vibe?
  • Do they need a rockstar like you (the answer is probably yes)?

Free bonus points: check if they’re running projects or campaigns that align with your skills. The more personal your pitch, the harder it’ll be for them to ignore you.

Step 3: Craft the “I Can’t Ignore This” Pitch

Your pitch isn’t your life story; it’s a highlight reel. Keep it short, punchy, and all about them. Start with something personal—maybe you loved a recent project they did or saw their job post on Upwork. Then, hit them with a quick line about how you can solve their problem.

For example:

“Hi [Name],

I came across [company name] on Upwork and loved the innovative approach you take with [specific project]. As someone with [X years] of experience in [skill], I’d love to help [specific outcome, e.g., boost engagement on your blog by 50%].

I’d be happy to discuss how I can contribute to your team—just let me know a time that works for you!”

See? Short, sweet, and dripping with value and relevance.

Step 4: Spreadsheet Your Way to Success

Cold emailing isn’t a “set it and forget it” game—it’s all about tracking. Create a spreadsheet and record:

  • Company name
  • Website link
  • Contact person
  • Date of contact
  • Response (if any)
  • Follow-up date

This way, you stay on top of who you’ve reached out to and when to follow up (because following up is where the magic happens).

Step 5: Hit Send Like a Pro

With your pitch locked and loaded, start sending emails. Use tools like MailMeteor, it’s quite affordable. Just make sure your emails feel personal, not like a spam bot’s midnight snack.

Pro Tip: Leave Them With a Trail

Include a link to your portfolio, LinkedIn, or even a personalized landing page. Make it easy for them to see why you’re a perfect fit.

And remember, rejection isn’t the end—it’s a step closer to finding the right match. If they can’t hire you now, thank them for their time and keep the door open for future opportunities.

So, there you have it, a low-stress way to master cold emailing. With a little creativity (and Upwork sleuthing), you’ll turn the dreaded “no response” into a steady stream of “let’s chat.” Got get those hidden jobs, I am rooting for you. (and I don’t care if you don’t believe me).

Signing Out!

These methods work great for finding hidden remote jobs. Wait a minute, that doesn’t mean it will be as simple and fun as it sounds. If it is your first time, You will likely hiss or close your laptop in frustration many times. It’s okay!

You will get a hang of things in no time. Don’t forget to give me a shout-out when the clients or interviews start rolling in. 

Do you have questions? Shoot in the comment section below or drop your thoughts in the comments on YouTube after watching the video.

If you want me to write or create a video about another topic, ask now while I am still up for it (just kidding). 

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