How to Access the Hidden Job Market
Tight job markets mean using the strategies collectively known as the “hidden” job market rather than filling out endless digital applications. Your time is best spent doing unusual job search activities. To stand out, do anything within reason to get your resume directly in front of a hiring manager.
Work on you
Use the time unemployment gives you to look for companies, people or specific roles that are really attractive to you. It can be tempting to waste time applying for anything vaguely related to your previous job, but this quickly gets overwhelming. You have a chance to refocus on what is really important to you in your work life. Do you need the highest possible salary? Or is it more important to get good vacation and benefits? Perhaps you need a company which can help you retrain or an office within a 10 minute commute. Identify those critical wants – and any deal breakers – before you jump in.
Work on them
Once you know what you need, go and find a maximum of 10 companies or individuals that meet your requirements. Then research everything you possibly can about your Top Ten starting with their website, and then looking at newspaper sites, employer rating sites and any databases you may be able to access at your local library. You are looking for any specific information that relates to your job history or interest so that you have somewhere to start a conversation. The more you know, the better prepared you are when the opportunity does come. Often this process will disqualify a few of your Top Ten without wasting any more time on them.
Find a friend
Use every connection and networking strategy you can think of to meet people in your Top Ten. Someone you know knows someone who works there. Tell everyone you are hoping to meet; people love to connect each other and be helpful. Find out where the employees go for lunch, go there for lunch, and strike up a conversation over your soup and sandwiches. Maybe the boss works out at a gym you could visit for a free trial period. Be creative and be ready to fail several times before you hit a winner. This is a case where the ancient maxim, “Fall down seven times, get up eight” is likely to come in handy.
Pound the pavement
Unemployed people are most comfortable applying for jobs advertised online, but very few will actually walk in and try to make a connection. Staple on your smile and go for a visit to their premises, posing as a customer if appropriate, or simply asking to speak to the manager. At the very least you will signal your strong interest in the company, and if you are persistent, eventually someone will have to speak to you. Once you make that connection, be ready with a resume.
Most people will advise you to apply online but will put your resume on the desk of the hiring manager. A personal recommendation from a colleague is hard to beat.
