Why “first in line” beats “perfect on paper”

When a new role goes live, the first batch of applicants sets the bar. If you are in that group, you are compared against a smaller pool. You stand out more. You are more likely to get a real review instead of a skim.

By the time a job has 200 applications, the process changes.

• Recruiters start scanning quickly.
• They rely more on quick filters and rigid checklists.
• They are more likely to miss nuance in your story.
• Early in the process, they are still curious. They are exploring. They are trying to understand what is realistic for the role.
• If you show up early with a clear, targeted profile, you look like exactly the sort of proactive person they want on a team.

So the goal is simple. Be early. And be ready.

• The simple LinkedIn “fresh jobs” trick

Here is how you find roles that were posted in the last hour, not just the last day.

Search for relevant jobs on LinkedIn

1. Use the Jobs tab. Enter your role plus a couple of key filters. For example. “Game Designer” and your preferred location or “remote.”
2. Apply the “Past 24 hours” filter
   On the left side, under Date Posted, choose “Past 24 hours.” This already cuts out a lot of stale posts. But we are going tighter.
3. Look at the URL and find “86400”
   Once the results load, click into the address bar. You will see a long URL with a bunch of parameters. Somewhere in that mess you will see the number 86400. That is the number of seconds in 24 hours.
4. Replace “86400” with “3600”
   Change 86400 to 3600. That is the number of seconds in one hour. Hit Enter to reload the page.
5. Go to All filters and sort by “Most recent” At the top of the results, click “All filters.”
   Look for the sort option and set it to “Most recent” so you see the newest posts first.

Now you are looking at jobs posted in roughly the past hour! You have moved from casual browser to early applicant.

One note. LinkedIn keeps changing things. For now, this trick only works if you turn off their new beta AI search. If you have that beta enabled, switch it off before you try this.

Use this method once or twice a day, not once a month. This is about frequency and consistency, not one heroic search session.

Speed is useless without a strong first impression

Getting there early is step one. Making it count is step two.

If you are going to hunt for fresh roles, you need to have your core assets ready to deploy fast.

1. Your LinkedIn profile
When a recruiter sees an interesting application, they click your profile. If it looks vague or outdated, you just killed the advantage of being early.

Quick audit:

• Headline: Clear role and focus. “Gameplay Programmer | Unreal Engine | Multiplayer Systems” is better than “Passionate engineer seeking opportunities.”
• About section: Short, specific, outcome focused. Highlight projects, achievements, and tools.
• Featured section: Pin your best work. Portfolio link. GitHub. Showreel. Case study.

If your profile screams “I know exactly what I want, and here is proof I can do it,” your early application carries real weight.

2. Your resume and base cover template
You do not have time to write from scratch every time. You need a base version you can tweak quickly.

• One core resume that is already focused on your target role.
• A short cover letter template with 2 or 3 customizable lines you can personalize to the company.
  When you see a fresh posting, you should be able to scan the description, adjust a few bullets, personalize the intro line, and send a strong application in under 15 minutes.

That is how you take advantage of fresh opportunities without sacrificing quality.

3. Your portfolio or proof of work
Especially in gaming and tech, proof of work beats buzzwords.

Have at least one of these ready and easy to link:

• Portfolio site
• GitHub or itch.io page
• ArtStation or Behance
• Demo reel or highlight reel

If you do not have a “perfect” portfolio yet, start with a simple Notion or Google Doc with links and screenshots. Imperfect proof of work beats a promise and nothing to show every single time.

How to use this daily without burning out

You do not need to live inside LinkedIn to win. You need a daily habit.

Here is a simple routine.

Once in the morning and once in the evening, use the “fresh jobs” trick.
Save only the roles that are a strong match. Do not hoard maybe jobs.
For each strong match, ask yourself one question. “Can I show a real example that proves I can do most of what they are asking?” If yes, apply. If no, move on.
For roles that excite you, send a short connection request to the hiring manager or someone on the team with a one line note referencing your application.
That rhythm keeps you ahead of the crowd without turning the search into a full time job.

The mindset shift that changes everything

Most people treat job hunting as if the company has all the power. You sit. You wait. You hope.

High-performing candidates act differently.

They:

• Watch the market in real time
• Move early on roles that fit
• Keep their story tight and their assets ready
• Show up as proactive from the very first interaction
• That first impression sends a message. “This is how I operate at work too.”

If you are serious about landing better roles, especially in competitive industries, stop chasing jobs that have been sitting around for weeks. Start hunting the ones that just appeared.

Set up your LinkedIn. Learn the past hour trick. Tighten your profile and portfolio. Then treat each fresh posting as a chance to practice making a sharp first impression.

Speed plus clarity is your edge. Use it.