Job seekers today probably realize that the online job marketplace is extremely visible and therefore, extremely competitive. Sometimes thousands of potential candidates will view a job and hundreds will apply. With competition so fierce, many job seekers may favor better in the invisible job market.
But what is the invisible job market? Well, it’s not another name for Diagon Alley of Harry Potter fame. The invisible market refers to the market of job openings that never appear online, or any public job-posting site.
Here are some strategies for finding this invisible job market:
Social Networking
If you know a specific company you are interested in, find a hiring manager or recruiter at the company to follow with LinkedIn. Once you have found a recruiter on Linkedin then search for them on other social media sites, for example Twitter, and follow them. Now keep a close watch on their social channels. If they post any jobs on the social sites that do not appear on their company’s site you’ve found a hidden job!
Another great way to tap into the invisible market is through referrals in your own network. Simply Hired's Who Do I Know® feature can help you find contacts at companies of interest to you within your Facebook and LinkedIn networks. Ask these contacts to help you set up introductions with recruiters, hiring managers, and other decision makers. Even if the company isn’t hiring right now, making a good impression with these people may lead to hearing about a job opening before it ever gets posted.
The Old Fashioned Way
The old fashioned way is the job hunt equivalent of a cold sales call. But rather than calls to sell aluminum siding, you are dropping in at companies with your resume, whether or not they have any job openings. To execute this first you will need to research the company of interest, and tailor your resume and cover letter to fit their employee requirements and culture (start by checking out previous job opening requirements and current employees’ Linkedin profiles).
Once you’re ready to drop off your resume, identify a contact at the company (the recruiter, department hiring manager, etc.) and when you arrive request to speak with them. If you’re lucky you’ll get the chance to talk with the contact about yourself and possible employment opportunities. But if you are unable to speak with the contact, leave your resume and cover letter for them. Follow up with a quick call or email, letting them know you stopped in to drop off your resume, and wanted to discuss employment opportunities. You may get lucky and get a phone call. If you don’t hear back, you can try again in a few weeks. Be patient with this method, out of ten drop ins, you may hear back from one. But your go-getter approach may just get employers’ attention.
Internships and Promotions
Internships can be a great way to decide if you are a good fit for a company or a job. They can also be a great way to land an un-posted job. When a company recognizes an intern would be great addition to the staff, they may carve out a full-time position to keep the intern on as a full-time employee. So, what can you as intern to improve your chances of converting to full-time? Be respectful of the company's time, money and culture. Be sure to always go above and beyond their expectations. Finally, demonstrate your improvements as an employee by learning new tasks and asking insightful questions. Interns who keep these tips in mind will greatly improve their chances of converting to a full-time employee.
Have you landed a job using the invisible job market? If so, share your method below.
