Today’s job market is a massive digital pool. Every minute, over 10,000 people apply for positions on platforms like LinkedIn. This overwhelming process can tire even the most digitally savvy candidates, and surprise seasoned professionals making a career change.

“If you are in an oversaturated channel, where a thousand others like you have applied, you can no longer rely on your resume,” said Ana Herranz, IE Professor and facilitator of the HEJS workshop and job search groups, “it's like playing the lottery; so stop getting frustrated and put 80% of your effort where 80% of the real opportunities are: somewhere else."

With over 5,000 hours of advising experience, Herranz leads the Highly Effective Job Search workshop, a cyclical course that equips IE’s graduating students and alumni with strategies to tackle the job market at any career stage. 

More than 1,800 participants have completed the program since its pandemic-era launch in 2020. In the latest edition, May 2025, 97% of participants reported increased confidence when approaching job search, and 100% of participants rated the professor’s guidance 8/10 or higher in efficacy and helpfulness. 

Participants included students and graduates from 2008 to 2025, spanning diverse programs such as the International MBA (40%), Executive MBA, Global Online MBA, IE Brown Executive MBA, Master in Management, and the Executive Master in Digital Transformation & Innovation Leadership.

Exploring the Hidden Job Market

Beyond her trajectory in teaching and management at IE Business School, Herranz has over 15 years of experience in career advising. The Highly Effective Job Search workshop draws from her expertise, identifying common struggles and offering practical, immediately applicable solutions for job-seekers.

"The course focuses on how to get opportunities in what we call the hidden market," Herranz said, “that is, how to reach a channel where there are more opportunities and less competition."

According to Herranz, the open job market filters applications with automation and AI, which can potentially skew resolutions with keyword filters instead of purely assessing a candidate’s abilities. In contrast, the hidden job market runs behind the scenes, with positions filled through referrals even before public job postings.

To access the hidden job market, candidates need tools beyond CVs. Behind-the-scenes action includes internal referrals and direct outreach, which rely on networking, a key tool frequently quoted and often misunderstood.

You Are Doing Networking Wrong

"It was a delightful surprise to come to IE and realize there's this huge network that can help me with my projects, my life goals, and my career," said Martin Sacchi, a 2021 IMBA alum. 

According to Herranz, harnessing the full potential of one’s network is key, and yet most of us are shy to reach out beyond our immediate contacts. This is one of many common mistakes, rooted in a flawed perception of networking as pitching our individual needs to others. 

Herranz paints this perception as unnatural, overwhelming, and potentially boring. 

"Networking is not about selling yourself, it's about getting information that others don't have,” she said, “we are obsessed with talking, and we have forgotten to listen." 

Instead, Herranz advises approaching networking with curiosity, reaching out to more people, including those not directly involved in the HR process.  

Four Keys to Success 

The course covers four effective strategies to optimize the job search process: knowing your value proposition and career plan, successful networking, building your business case, and optimizing your CV and LinkedIn for digital processes.

Sacchi recalls the effectiveness of Ana’s teaching, both in the corporate world and when he pivoted his career to freelance.

"The first inbound message I ever got from a recruiter or another company was after applying Ana's advice," said Sacchi.

Sacchi was initially hesitant to apply the course’s advice until a peer's story changed his mind. 

"One of my first interviews came through a referral from someone I met during my MBA; he had taken Ana’s Highly Effective Job Search workshop, applied the advice, and it worked," said Sacchi. "Hearing his success firsthand made me take it seriously and follow the same steps."

Glowing Reviews 

The Highly Effective Job Search workshop is hailed by its participants, with success stories like Martin’s spreading through word of mouth. Participant testimonials praise the practicality, versatility, and relevance of the advice.

"Wonderful, updated, and extremely useful content. Congrats!" wrote a participant in the end-of-course survey. Sacchi agreed.

"I think what I like about Ana’s workshop is that it's a very short, but highly practical course that gives you the kind of skills to implement and make changes immediately," he said.

Students and alumni also highlighted the support from the team in guiding the job-seeking process. 

"The team at IE has been super supportive and continues to help navigate a challenging job market." 

Ultimately, it is the successful practical application of the course’s advice that drives word-of-mouth recommendations. 

"I highly recommend this course, it is very insightful and mind-blowing," another participant wrote, "I’ve had the opportunity to apply what I learned on previous occasions, and it actually works! So you could say it’s truly effective; thanks to Ana for being so wonderful and dedicated."

The program’s popularity has led the IE Career Advancement Center to expand its offerings. What began as an emergency response to pandemic-era job displacement has evolved, with additional iterations planned for September, and November 2025, and regular sessions during the 2025-2026 academic year.

The course’s vision is to become a rolling basis program with weekly job search groups as adjunct support.

As the professional landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with remote work, gig economy growth, and AI-driven recruitment changes, the IE Career Advancement Center remains committed to equipping IE’s working professional students and alumni with the latest skills, strategies, and tactics to tackle an ever-changing employment landscape.