What’s the first thing you do when you’re looking for a new job? Your instincts tell you to start exploring job boards. Of course, you should go through different job boards to find openings suitable for your skills and interests. However, when you exclusively base your quest on these platforms, you might end up frustrated. You’ll be sending countless applications and getting only a few calls.
Have you started exploring the “hidden” job market? We’re talking about opportunities that are not being advertised on job boards. Many organizations rely on recruiters and specialized sites to identify and attract qualified candidates.
You might be wondering why they are doing that. If these organizations advertise their job openings online, they will get tons of applications, and not all of those candidates will have the needed skills and education. Thus, they created a system that allows them to identify the best matches from a pool of viable candidates.
The main question is: how exactly do you find a job opening that’s hidden? You need to present yourself as a highly qualified candidate for a particular type of job so the recruiters will find you. We’ll tell you how to do that.
1. Focus on Networking
You need to establish a professional network of people, who will recommend you to potential employers. You already know this: LinkedIn is an irreplaceable tool for networking. Are you using it well? Your profile should be attractive and creative. Although the format is rigid, it still gives you space for creative presentation.
John Groove from Resumes Planet gives us a good tip: “LinkedIn networking isn’t something you should be doing only when you need a job. Turn it into a habit! When you keep connecting with people from the relevant industry every single day, you increase your chances of getting calls from recruiters. You don’t find the hidden job market. It finds you when you make yourself noticed.”
2. Start Posting Articles
There is one principle in networking you should always keep in mind: give, so you’ll get something in return. What exactly can you give, so you’ll attract more connections on LinkedIn and other social networks? The answer is content.
Start your own blog and write content related to the niche you aim for. You can also post on LinkedIn’s blogging platform. That’s a great way to get noticed by the right people. With the unique content of high quality, you’re building the status of an expert in the industry.
Don’t forget to forward useful content on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and other channels. You need to make your profiles useful to follow.
3. Reach Out to Employers
You really want to work in a particular company? Why don’t you reach out? Instead of waiting for them to post an ad on job boards, you should make the first step. First, connect with people from that organization on LinkedIn.
Then, you’ll need to send a compelling request for an interview with the recruiter or hiring manager. It takes a lot of effort and skill to write such a request, but you can do it. Just introduce yourself and tell them why you want to work in that organization and how you can contribute to its growth. At the end of the request, nicely ask them to contact you in case they have an open position suitable to your skills. You can send this kind of request via email, but you can also call the hiring manager. That’s bold, but it works.
4. Work on Your Growth
Your degree is not enough. Recruiters want to see you’re doing everything you can to improve your knowledge and gain more skills. Attend as many courses and seminars as you can. Professional growth requires effort and finances, but you’ll see great benefits in return.
First of all, seminars, courses and conferences give you a chance to meet people from your industry. You can get noticed by the instructors so they will give you a recommendation. Most important of all, you’ll gain new skills that open up opportunities for better jobs.
5. Volunteer!
Working without getting paid? Who does that nowadays? – Smart people who know that’s a great way to impress employers. Volunteering positions are rarely advertised. If you really want to work for a certain company, contact the hiring manager and offer your services without compensation. You’ll get to do what you love, and you’ll leave a positive impression to the right people.
Volunteering can lead you to a job offer. Once you get into that organization, it’s up to you: will you prove yourself to be a valuable addition to the team? Even if you don’t get an offer for a full-time job, you’ll at least make great connections and you’ll get recommendations that lead you to other hidden opportunities on the job market.
It all comes down to your persistence, diligence, and ability to make connections. When you need a new job, you need to start knocking on as many doors as possible. Hiring managers expect that approach from talented candidates.
