There’s A Hidden Job Market Waiting For You To Tap Into

Every morning you have the same routine. You sit down at the kitchen table, pencil in one hand coffee cup in the other and pour over the employment section of the paper.

Each day there are less and less ads for you to circle and despite the promising words and vague descriptions you have begun to believe that none of these potential employers will seriously consider you. Maybe the position will go to their cousin or a friend or maybe once again, they will tell you that you are overqualified.

But you trudge on, a folder full of resumes in your arms you get in the car for a long day of driving around and delivering them to prospective employers.

Your situation is not that different from many Americans. It’s not uncommon to hear of people that were laid of 5 months ago to still be looking for work. If you think the only way to find a job is to have connections, you may be partly right. With such a demand for employment many jobs never make it to the paper. How can you compete?

NETWORKING

They may also hear of someone who is hiring and keep you updated on opportunities you may not otherwise have heard about. Their personal referral can also make an impression on the employer in your behalf.

NON-POSTED JOBS

In many companies, jobs are listed for internal candidates first but you don’t have to wait for these jobs to be listed.

Write down a list of companies that you would like to work for. Then call them and inquire about open positions. Make sure you talk to the human resources manager or the person who is in charge of hiring for your type of position.

Once you know who that person is, you can send a resume directly to them. Write a cover letter that expresses your interest in the company and why you'd like to work for them. Follow up several days later and ask for the individual. Tell them you're checking to see that they received your resume and ask if there are any positions that may become available.

If they tell you they are not hiring at the moment, let them know you will check back at a later date. Sometimes positions come up out of the blue and by staying in touch with the hiring manager you might luck out. This is a fine line, however, as you want to stay at the front of their minds without seeming to be a pest. No one wants to hire a pest.

This is not a secret. If you're not taking advantage, someone else will. You can't afford to miss out on making yourself known to employers BEFORE the job posting is made public.

Accessing this hidden job market may open up opportunities you never thought possible. By staying one step ahead of other job searchers you can be sure that your new job is just around the corner!