Hacking the Hidden Job Market

There are plenty of unadvertised or "hidden" jobs out there, but discovering those takes a little bit of luck and a lot of smart discovery tactics.

Career experts estimate that between 80% and 85% of all jobs openings are unlisted.

WHY DOES THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET EXIST?

There are a number of reasons that a company might not have published their job opening online, among them:

• No one has written the job posting yet.

• There’s a backlog of applicants from previous job postings.

• The company sources their own candidates or relies on outside recruiters.

• The company prefers hiring via employee referrals or promoting from within.

• LinkedIn, Indeed and other job sites are expensive and charge the company per click. A company might have exhausted their budget and pulled their ad before committing to a new hire.

Current social media trends and technology advances allow companies to find applicants without listing a position. Some companies don't like to advertise on job boards because of the cost. And the ones that are free aren't a great option, either.

Employers are finding that when they list an opening on a free job board, the number of unqualified applicants that reply overwhelms them, and they wind up spending untold hours and resources trying to screen each candidate. Therefore, it is much easier for them to look on social media platforms for good candidates for their open position. They can screen applicants on LinkedIn and Google+ and other platforms without excessive costs.

If you're able to find these hidden jobs, you could be doing yourself huge favor.

Finding those hidden job postings first affords you a fighting chance because you get there before anyone else does. If this happens, you greatly improve your visibility and the opportunity of being considered for the position increases.

Here are a few tactics for successfully penetrating the "hidden job market."

1. Join industry-related groups. Join associations, professional organizations, meet-up groups, Toastmasters, state assemblies, etc., and start building contacts before you need them. Consider volunteering to give a talk at a meeting of one of these entities, as this is a great way to get noticed.

2. Establish yourself as a source of information in your industry. Send each of your individual contacts within your network links to articles of interest once or twice a year or whenever something can really resonate with them. When you send these links, keep your email short: “Saw this and thought you might be interested…” This way, your name becomes associated with good information and you are seen as a valuable, well-read resource.

3. Talk to insiders. Try to talk with executives in various companies and industries to learn what is happening in their spaces so you know where to align your career path as well as your job-search efforts. Your next great opportunity may be in a space you never thought possible, but you'll never know if you don't explore.

4. Pay attention to the news. Stay on top of any local business in the media spotlight for information on what's happening with companies in your area. If you hear someone interviewed on news-radio, find them on Facebook or LinkedIn and send them a note that you appreciated what they had to say. You can take it a step further and mention that you would like to get together over coffee to learn more.

5. Search company "Careers" pages. Research and target companies you are interested in. Most companies will post on their own website and never go to outside job boards or recruiters. In fact, many companies have internal referral programs in place, so existing employees make referrals and thereby eliminate the need for the company to conduct a formal search.

6. Build and maintain relationships with recruiters. The best way to do this is to update your resume every few months so you can send the latest version to them.

7. Use LinkedIn wisely. Keep your profile up-to-date, and refresh it regularly. Join Facebook groups and participate in discussions so people become familiar with your name and may seek you out. Recruiters and companies often purchase access to social media algorithms that give them a back door to slyly see who is active in their field and what they are saying, so be certain to keep your discussions positive and constructive.

8. Target carefully. Pick the companies where you would like to work; do your homework on why you want to work there and identify those things that you can relate to and like about the company. Do your research to identify the decision makers, or people high up enough in the company to know the decision makers, and connect with them on LinkedIn. Send them something of value: an article or anything that would help them, not you. And don't ask them for anything in your first few communications. Eventually, they will be receptive if you have been helpful and you'll be the first person they think of when a job becomes available.

9. Let your friends, family and followers help you find a job. Most of us want to help the ones we love and respect. Let anyone that cares about your well-being know you’re serious about getting a new job. Tell them exactly what you’re looking for. Your biggest boosters will surprise you with the leads they generate.

Do you know anyone that strikes up conversations with strangers everywhere they go? Make sure they know what you’re looking for. Your name will travel.

10. Network. There is no better way to crack the hidden job market than old fashioned networking. This means following conventional advice of meeting up with alumni groups, attending formal networking functions, and making the rounds at relevant trade shows and conferences.

This also means beefing up your social calendar in general. Catch up with old friends and attend social events where you’re likely to meet new people. Let people know what you do and where you’re at in your career. Share your phone number or connect with new contacts on Facebook or LinkedIn so they can get in touch when something comes up.

Networking offline can reveal exclusive opportunities, but there is also work to be done on the web. Connect with more people on LinkedIn and engage industry peers on Twitter or forums like Stack Overflow. Develop your professional brand by creating and sharing thoughtful content related to your industry or working on side projects that utilize your professional skillset.

11. Make sure that a recruiter can find you. Every job seeker should be working to get the attention of recruiters in their industry. A good corporate recruiter can be your fairy godmother of jobs. A bad corporate recruiter might struggle to understand what you do and what types of opportunities you’re actually seeking, but your patience can result in new opportunities.

12. Don’t just use the job board websites to look for jobs. Let the job boards work for you. The first step is to post a master resume on all the job sites you’re already using. Ensure that your resume features exact keywords and terminology used in your industry for maximum search ability. Uploading a searchable resume on Indeed, Monster and other sites puts you in the way of recruiters’ initial sourcing efforts.

13. Putting some work into your LinkedIn profile is important if you want to attract a recruiter. More than 80% of recruiters use LinkedIn to source or vet job candidates. Complete as many profile sections as possible, be thorough and to the point, and include your accomplishments and measurable results. Your headline should include your current job title as well as the title you’re pursuing. Recruiters use complicated Boolean searches to surface candidates with specific combinations of skills, so sprinkle your headline, summary, and work experience with skills and keywords specific to your qualifications and industry.

You shouldn’t give up on conventional job applications, but positioning yourself for success in the hidden job market could reveal opportunities that don’t exist on any job board.