Most people start their job search the same way: scrolling job boards, reading descriptions, and applying to anything that looks remotely relevant. On the surface, it makes sense. The role sounds good, the salary looks right, and the company name carries weight.

But job ads only ever tell you part of the story and often the most polished part. They don’t tell you what it’s really like to work there, how the team operates day to day, or whether the role will actually move your career forward.

That’s why the best career moves rarely start with a job ad. They start with a conversation.

Why Timing Matters More Than You Think

Some of the strongest roles in the market are never advertised. They’re filled quietly, through networks, referrals, and conversations that happen at the right time.

When you rely purely on job boards, you’re often seeing opportunities that are:

• Urgent rather than strategic

• High turnover roles

• Already flooded with applicants

Having conversations early, before you need to move, puts you in a far stronger position. It gives you time to understand the market, benchmark yourself properly, and wait for the right opportunity rather than jumping at the next available one.

Insight Beats Information Every Time

A job description gives you information. A conversation gives you insight.

Insight looks like:

• Understanding why a role exists

• Knowing what success actually looks like in the first 12 months

• Being honest about the challenges, not just the positives

• Knowing whether the company genuinely invests in its people

This is where working with a specialist recruiter makes a real difference. We speak to candidates and businesses every day. We see patterns, trends, and warning signs that aren’t visible from the outside.

Avoiding the “Wrong but Available” Move

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is moving because a role is available, not because it’s right.

Pressure builds. Frustration grows. Suddenly, the focus shifts from making a good move to making any move. That’s when people accept roles they haven’t fully assessed, only to find themselves back in the market a year later.

A proper conversation helps slow things down. It allows you to talk through options, weigh up pros and cons, and decide whether moving now actually makes sense or whether staying put a little longer could be the smarter play.

Conversations Create Better Decisions

Talking openly about your career doesn’t mean committing to a move. It means getting clarity.

The best conversations often cover:

• Where you are now versus where you want to be

• What skills or experience you’re missing

• What type of business would suit you best

• What to avoid based on previous moves

Even if you don’t move immediately, you come away better informed and more confident about your next step.

Final Thought

Careers don’t progress by accident. They progress through informed decisions, good timing, and honest conversations.

Job ads have their place, but they shouldn’t be the starting point. If you want to make a move that actually improves your long-term prospects, start by talking. Ask questions. Get insight.