Your default search method as a job seeker might be to rely on positions that are listed. A different approach, though, maybe even more effective at assisting you in locating and securing professional possibilities. It's called the "hidden job market," and once you know how to use it to your advantage, you'll have an advantage over other candidates in your field.
Employers who rely on the hidden job market may not necessarily be aiming to hide their job openings or prevent competent candidates from learning about them; rather, they may have one or more reasons why they choose not to make the jobs publicly known.
For instance, hiring managers might prefer to start their candidate search with internal prospects before expanding their search to a larger pool. Or, some businesses might prefer to avoid the time and financial expenses associated with conventional job advertising and recruiting.
Other businesses might want to keep the job opening
beneath the radar for valid privacy reasons, such as when they are launching a new
project that hasn't yet been publicized.
How Do You Navigate the Hidden Job Market to Find Work?
How would you learn about a role if it wasn't advertised? Fortunately, there are a few
simple methods you can employ to gather information about positions that haven't been
published.
● Participate in offline or online networking
Networking, whether through an online platform like LinkedIn or through opportunities to network in person, is one of the best methods to learn about untapped employment market opportunities. While LinkedIn, for instance, won't specifically display hidden market job prospects, you can ask around in your network or try to make new connections with people who work at firms that interest you and they might become a conduit to hidden market positions.
When it comes to your working life, take the time to talk to everyone you meet since you never know when one of them might have a job chance for you.
● Begin with a Volunteer or Internship Position
Starting out as an intern or volunteer at a company where you want to work is another method to keep an eye out for positions that haven't yet been advertised and possibly be among the first applicants to learn about them. You'll have access to the company's decision-makers in an unpaid role or internship, and you might be able to discover untapped employment market chances. Additionally, you'll get the chance to demonstrate your talents to a potential employer without having to go through an interview, which will make you a more appealing candidate if an internal opening occurs.
● Speak with Others in Your Business or Industry
Asking around may help you learn about hidden market positions within your current organization that are accessible in various areas. Although this kind of networking calls for subtlety and prudence, you'll get first dibs on these inside opportunities because you're a corporate insider. Spend some time discussing potential employment with your peers across functional lines.
At the industry level, you can use the same strategy by finding individuals or companies where you might enjoy working and then making connections with them through online or offline networking.
A career coach and trained professional resume writer Colleen Paulson say, "If you are interested in working for a given organization, reach out to colleagues who work there to see if they've heard about any open opportunities." Again, LinkedIn can be incredibly helpful in these efforts to access the hidden job market. Start following the company on LinkedIn if you don't know anyone who works there, advises Paulson.
Find out more about their objectives and consider how you may assist them in achieving them. She continues by saying that using LinkedIn to contact company leaders and let them know that you have done your research and have ideas for how you can make a difference is also acceptable while looking for hidden job market chances.
Many businesses are secretly searching for qualified candidates as a result of the Great Resignation, and if you can demonstrate how you can contribute, you have a decent chance of landing the position you want, says Paulson.
Discover Hidden Jobs
You can access the hidden job market and discover a position that suits your needs via
networking, participating in internships, volunteering, or doing a mix of these activities.
