Having trouble finding a job? Don’t know where to look? How about trying the hidden market? Yes, that’s right, the HIDDEN job market. I never said getting a job would be easy…
The biggest job search secret is that 80% of jobs are never posted. Why? Well, job postings take time and cost money that employers do not have. If there is an open position, employers will do anything they can to hire internally, leaving students and new graduates with the leftover scraps. Job listings are a last resort for employers, but usually are the first place we all look when we see our bank accounts plummeting. So why start your search where the big guys are finishing?
The first thing you can do to get over this obstacle is not get discouraged. The stat that 20% of jobs are all you see when you do a search can be intimidating. There is a way around it. It just takes a little more work.
Remember networking? This would be a good time to put it into practice. Get in contact with your connections and start gathering information about who is hiring. Employed people know about internal positions, so talk amongst your friends and former employers for a referral. Go to events and meet new people - you never know who you will bump into. The job of your dreams could be one conversation away.
Setting up information interviews with employers you want to work for is also a great way to get your foot in the door. If it goes well, maybe they'll remember your name for their next open position. I would also suggest checking out business directories and professional associations for connections.
Career Services has tons of information on the hidden job market including directories, books and a workshop on “Job Search Strategies” to help you reach your specific career goals. So be smart, and start your next job search by looking where no one else is. View a CBS interview with Ellen Reeves, author of "Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?" here.
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