The Hidden Jobs - How to Find Them!

You may have heard the term "hidden job market" a lot while searching for a job. Sometimes the best way to get a job is to contract for it first, prove your worth.
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If you are leaving a company, that may be understandable. Another connection to the hidden job market is your friends and neighbors. More on Job Search Networking. Along the same lines, the request for informational or informal interview is a key tool for being considered for future opportunities.

Many hiring managers love to keep their cache of great candidates as full as possible. Smart ones know that they can find great candidates if they look for them in advance of the need to hire. Timing is everything, as they say. These same managers also have connections to other hiring managers. You never know who they might connect you with. You need to be bold about asking for an informational interview. You should offer to buy lunch or coffee to meet off-premises which can be helpful for them in many ways. Ask about future hiring plans, too.

Keep an eye on their announcements. Key ones to watch for include: Another place hidden jobs exist is in contracting. Sometimes the best way to get a job is to contract for it first, prove your worth, and ask to be made permanent. Many companies solve current manpower issues by getting "temporary help" on board. You may look at this as only a band-aid to your current situation; however, there is no better way to finding a job than finding it from within the "company walls.

But the odds of a positive outcome are much better than applying for dozens of jobs as an unknown quantity. More on Freelancing and Contracting. The good news about the hidden job market is that it is hidden. So this naturally means only the really dedicated job seekers are finding the opportunities. Think of this as a win-win situation. Professional Associations or Societies. If you join professional associations such as your local chamber of commerce or a law society as applicable , this is a good way to talk to and network with those in your industry.

Note that for students, membership fees are customarily available at a discounted price. There are multitudes of free online discussion groups on every topic on job searches. First, look for the industry or company that is of interest of you and join their group.

21 Proven Ways to Access the Hidden Job Market

Keep in mind, however, that while they can be a fount of information, there is also misinformation present. Thus, do not believe everything that you read in these groups. If they permit members to post questions or comments, simply read existing posts without participating, so you can get an idea of the typical rules of conduct.

If and when you want to participate, make sure that your post is relevant even helpful and well written.


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In these social networking sites, try to join groups and participate in the discussions. This is so people can become familiar with your name and your work and eventually try to seek you out. Keep in mind that companies and recruiters usually buy memberships that allow them a back entrance to find out who is active in their industry or field. So always guarantee that your comments are constructive and positive. Jobs Pages of Companies. Target and research companies that you find interesting.

How to Find Hidden Jobs with an Easy Google Search

Most companies would typically post on their websites and never reach out to recruiters, agencies, or job boards. Actually, many companies have referral programs internally , so current employees can make referrals. Read local and international news and journals and watch the television for the latest on what is going on with companies in your vicinity. If you see someone being interviewed on TV, send him or her a message or a note that you liked what he or she said and would like to discuss things further over coffee or something to that effect.

A good way to know about hidden jobs is to stay updated with potential employers. In this manner, you are one of the firsts to know if someone is leasing an additional office space, signing a partnership deal, or receiving new funding.

How to find hidden jobs:

These all indicate that a company might be hiring soon. You can use Google Alerts to stay up-to-date. Simply go to the Google Alerts webpage and type the industry, employers, or decision-makers you want to keep track of.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Afterwards, you will start getting emails with recent news that Google gathered. An extra tip about Google Alerts — once you receive an alert about something important, try to incorporate it in your phone call or email when you want to request for an interview. Conferences, Trade Shows, and Conventions. Conferences, trade shows, and conventions are the best places to look for hidden jobs. They will allow you to get new contacts who can inform you about job postings that have not yet been posted, aid you in getting that job interview, offer access to influential persons with the hiring power, and find employers that are currently in its growth cycle that might be searching for staff members soon.

These events can be costly, for sure, and would affect you more if you were out of work. However, try to attend at least one major event every year in your industry. If you still cannot afford the costs, try to attend local industry meetings instead. A tip to reducing or eliminating costs is to attend the events as a volunteer. Attempt to talk to industry and company insiders. This will help you know what is happening, so you can target your career path and job search efforts. You can find them in the conferences, trade shows, and conventions and during your networking efforts.

Connection with Professors and Industry Peers. Besides going the social networking online route, traditional face-to-face networking with professors and industry peers are good. These face-to-face interactions with people you know well or would like to get to know better are helpful. Previous professors may have former students who are working in the company you are interested in or have connections to the industry you are hoping to be a part of.

In addition, industry peers could have insiders in companies that you might like to join. You would be surprised that people rarely reach out to the employer of their choice unless there are actual positions being advertised for that company. We know it takes a lot to ask for an interview. However, smart recruiting managers are always on the lookout for professionals that can help their company or save funds.

So first, research who the recruiting manager is and be courageous. Call or email him or her to introduce yourself. Be ready to explain your background and your experience and how it can be useful to their company. In this manner, even if the company is currently full or there is a hiring freeze, they will remember you once positions become available. A tip to get an introduction to a decision-maker is to use a LinkedIn connection. You may attract the attention of your target when you receive referrals. Informational interviews are not job interviews, so it does not require that you bring a resume.

Instead, it is a meeting that you can arrange with an industry expert. This will help you ask them questions on what they are doing so you can get career advice, if they have any. Think of it as a fact-finding mission of sorts. Your objective is to get as much information as you can from an expert. In this manner, you increase your network and find leads for employment. Another great advantage, particularly if you are just starting your career, is that you will immediately find out what it takes to be a success in your field.

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Marketing and Establishment as an Information Source in the Industry. Try to market and establish yourself as a source of information for your industry. How do you do this? You can send your contacts individually, of course links to interesting articles around once or twice every year. Remember when you send the links; keep your email short and sweet. By doing this, the information is connected to you immediately and you are perceived as a well-read and valuable source of information. Alternatively, make sure you learn as much about your targeted companies and that you can talk about them intelligently and comfortably.

As soon as you have become knowledgeable about those companies, write letters to them. Do not ask for a job directly. Request instead for an informational interview discussed previously. This allows you to show that you have expertise in your industry. Previous Employers and Colleagues. Previous employers and colleagues would probably know you better than anyone, at least professionally. Although they cannot hire you again, they are well positioned to recommend and refer you to other employers. So make sure to stay in touch with previous bosses or supervisors with whom you have had a wonderful relationship.

For former colleagues, although they are as good as previous bosses, they are less likely to be able to hire you directly. Nevertheless, still search for someone who can guarantee your good work. This is a strong tool to get a job, prior to its posting. Relationship with the Decision-Makers. Do not wait for a job to be posted.

Creative job search - Accessing the hidden job market (gradireland Summer Fair)

Start the contact with a hiring manager in a company you would like to work for and start a conversation. If you have no contacts within the company, search their website for important email addresses. However, avoid the human resources department.


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  8. Ask the employees to refer you to the particular head of the department you are targeting. You have to make sure you talk to the person who makes the decisions.