Upwards of 80-85% of jobs have been reported as “unlisted” or “hidden”. Have you wondered how you could tap into this supposedly ‘hidden’ job market?
Given available talent in today’s job market, many companies have the luxury of finding enough qualified candidates without posting job advertisements. While it may seem “easy” to find job listings online, the “hard” work required in finding unlisted opportunities is worth it because a smaller applicant pool increases your odds of success.
Wondering how to start looking for unlisted job opportunities? There are countless ways, but here are seven strategies to get you started:
- Join online industry associations to network and participate in their online chat boards or email groups.
- Join local networking groups and chambers of commerce to develop contacts (ideally before you need them) and establish the “know, like, and trust” factor.
- Reach out to members of your college alumni association to “talk shop” and learn how they secured their own positions.
- Connect with recruiters and industry colleagues on LinkedIn and in LinkedIn groups. Be of value to executive recruiters by always being willing to forward their job leads to qualified people in your network.
- Establish yourself as an expert in your field by blogging, tweeting, and posting about your area of expertise. Consistently and thoughtfully share links online to articles of professional interest (“Saw this and thought you might be interested…”) and comment on trends in your industry.
- Conduct a proactive “old school” search to network in to your target companies with the goal of circumventing the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to get your resume in the hands of the hiring manager, including a combination of mailing a hard copy, walking a copy in to reception, or having an internal contact pass your resume over.
- Identify companies in growth mode either by reading the business section in the local newspaper or trade journals. Expanding companies will have a greater need for strong talent and have been known to even create an opportunity for the right person.
A common theme for these strategies is to become top of mind among your contacts for when they hear of new opportunities. While initially it may feel like hard work, it’s smart work and well worth your time.
Laurie is a valuable resource to tap for her expertise of the tools, tips, and techniques of job search. Contact her today for help with integrating these job search tips and more!
