If you’ve been looking for a job for quite some time with no luck, don’t blame the economy. Instead, take a step back and examine your job search strategy. If you’ve just been sitting behind your computer looking at job boards and applying to countless positions online, you aren’t doing enough. Before you throw in the towel and give up on your job search, you may want to explore one more avenue, the hidden job market.

What is the hidden job market? It refers to the jobs that are never posted or advertised. Research supports that 65 to 70 percent of job seekers found their jobs through networking. Networking is still the number one job search strategy that remains productive and effective in landing a new position.  It means actively searching for opportunities instead of passively searching for jobs online.

In today’s economic crunch, you need to have an edge on the competition when job searching. By making as many people aware of you, your skills and abilities, as well as your accomplishments, you increase your chance of landing a new position. Every friend and family member, colleague, former boss, and other professionals in your network should be informed of your job pursuit.

Most managers to senior level executives know that networking is key, yet they often find networking overwhelming. For them this is uncharted territory; however, they all have done networking in some form in their current or past positions like calling a vendor or meeting with a client. Some senior level executives are reluctant to reconnect with former colleagues because they haven’t been in touch with them for quite some time. Even though it can be a struggle for them to reach out to colleagues that they haven’t talked with in years, it’s essential to reconnect. Even though these high level professionals are reluctant to ask for help in their job search, they soon come to realize that submitting their resumes online in volume hoping to get an interview doesn’t work. By reconnecting with former clients, co-workers, and friends, you may uncover a potential job.

You never know where your next opportunity will come from. Be open-minded and think outside of the box. Remember that networking is a two-way street. You need to offer or contribute something to your network as well. This could be your time, expertise or influence.

Don’t keep doing the same thing that millions of other job seekers are doing. With today’s fierce competition, you have to be creative and unique when looking for the right career fit.

According to Drake, Beam & Morin, international outplacement specialists, the effectiveness of job search strategies is summarized below:

Strategy Used	Average % Who Find Jobs
Networking	70%
Search Firms	15%
Targeted Mailings	10%
Answering Advertisements	5%

 

 

 

 

 

Not Hiring Doesn’t Mean Not Accepting

If you have your heart set on working at a particular company or in a particular field, don’t become discouraged when you find out that no one is hiring. Just because a company doesn’t have any openings at the present moment, doesn’t mean that something won’t open up in the near future. In order to get your foot in the door, it never hurts to submit a cover letter and resume to a company that says they aren’t currently hiring. Here’s why:

• Many company job openings are filled every day without the public’s knowledge.
• A company may be considering a position opening in the near future – one that you’re truly qualified for. You never know what is going on behind the brick and mortar of companies.
• Often hiring managers help each other out so when a well-qualified candidate meets with a hiring manager who does not have a job opening available he or she may know of another company or hiring manager looking to hire a candidate with your skills, background, and qualifications.
• A resume from a qualified individual can sometimes move and persuade a hiring manager to make a difficult decision by taking action and firing an under-performing employee.
• A resume from a qualified professional can sometimes push a hiring manager or business owner to develop and create a much-needed department and/or role in the company.

 

Techniques for Tapping into the Hidden Job Market

1.     Talk to everyone you know online and in person.

• Tell everyone you meet that you’re looking for a career/job, and mention the kind of role that you’re seeking.
• Broaden your interactions to professionals outside of your career field.
• Build your network and uncover leads.

2.     Move into action.

• Get a LinkedIn account and utilize the free online professional networking site that allows you to reconnect/engage with people from your past and present.
• Talk to colleagues and classmates from years past.
• Make initial contact with former colleagues and managers, which often will open the door for other professionals to ask you how you are doing.

3.     Clearly communicate your message.

• Think ahead so that you’re able to clearly communicate your objectives to anyone who asks.
• Succinctly say specifically what it is that you can do (area of expertise, what you’re looking for (type of position and/or company that would be the best match), what it is you want, and the real and potential benefits of hiring you.
• By finding clarity, you are able to confine your job search, and your network will be able to more effectively help and support you.

4.     Research the careers/positions that interest you.

• Identify your three key areas of interest.
• Select and contact five people from each of these areas for a networking meeting. This is an informational meeting, not an interview, where you learn more about the network contact and the company.
• Meet with these people and prepare your questions in advance so you can learn more about their organization and what they offer.

5.     Use a targeted letter search.

• This letter simply describes your unique career situation, background, and is addressed to the hiring manager of a target company. You will need to do your homework and take the proper steps when writing this particular letter. By implementing this strategy, you have created an excellent way to get your foot in the door of an organization.