The hidden job market: how to find the perfect job. More job seekers are becoming aware of the importance of finding the hidden job market.
Precisely what is the hidden job market?
As positions in companies become available, many companies hold off advertising, opting to hire within the organization or by word of mouth. Advertising costs them money and time.
Once a job is listed in the local paper, it can become inundated with resumes and applicants. It takes valuable time and effort to review these resumes, does background checks, check employment records and references, and then interview the applicant.
Today, since the Internet has become such an advertising highway, many large companies have developed websites for employees, clients, and other interested parties to use. They advertise their products or services, allow clients to place orders, and even post job openings on these sites instead of looking for recruiters or advertising in the want ad sections of the newspapers.
How to Get Started
The first thing you need to do is update your resume. Since many companies now accept them by fax or email, you can sometimes eliminate the cost of printing on expensive paper.
Make the resume simple and to the point, highlighting your education, work experience, unique attributes, and significant accomplishments on your job.
Most employers would instead read a two-page resume than try to sort through a six-page history. Employers want your work experience for the last ten years, or if you haven’t worked that long, the last three jobs you have held, what you did, and why you left.
Your Next Step
Decide what kind of job you are looking for. Sometimes changing your job genre mid-stream is not a good idea. If you have the education and experience in one field and stick with it, you are good at it. Sometimes the education you received and your job experiences can qualify you for several different but related positions.
Here is a little tip to go along with this. Some employers look at longevity at a job. If they see that you have jumped around from one place to another – and one position to another, they may shy away from hiring you unless you provide a good explanation.
Once you have decided what position you are going for, have updated your resume, and developed a good cover letter, you are ready to start looking. Make this an ongoing goal.
Don’t just decide that one day you will send out a few and then skip a couple of days. Set aside specific days and times to work on your job search – searching for a job is like a job. To be successful, you need to put in the time and effort. The more you put out there, the more offers you will receive, provided you have a strong resume and cover letter.
Location
Now you have to decide where you want to work. Can you travel a certain distance every day to a job? Are you willing to relocate to another area? Do you want something close to home?
Look for work in the areas you are willing to work in. You don’t want to accept a job interview to find out you have to relocate somewhere you don’t want. Have an added statement in your application or resume stating what you are willing to do to take this position.
Where to Start Looking
The internet can be a source of information. When companies downsize, hire, expand, merge, or move, it will usually appear in the financial section of the newspapers. It may be mentioned in the financial reports on the news channels.
Watch for growing, merging companies, introducing new products, or showing improvement in their profits. These companies will soon be looking for new professionals to fill new positions.
It is not hard to find out who is the head of the personnel department, and it is best to contact them personally. Have your resume already in the mail before you call them. Address the cover letter to them, and ensure you spell all names correctly.
Go to company websites. As mentioned, many companies now post job positions on their website rather than paying for advertising. They usually include all open positions, the person’s name to contact, and a fax number or email address to send your resume.
Always do a follow-up email or call to ensure they receive your information.
Applications vs. Resumes
Some of these companies do not require a resume but have an application online that you can fill out.
Just remember to keep it simple and to the point. If they get many applications, they might scan over them and put off reading ones that are too lengthy. The simpler and more to the fact you make it, the easier it is for them to pay attention to your skills and decide.
Look in the phone book. If you are trained for a specific position and want to stick with that, look for companies in the phone book that use your skills. For example, look for accounting or financial companies if you are an accountant. If you are a machine operator, you will look for a machine shop that would be hiring.
Call them and ask if they are currently hiring or will be in the near future. Sometimes you can catch them just as they have a position opening up. If they are, ask for an immediate interview. The quicker you move, the better your chance of securing the position.
Last but not least, check the Better Business Bureau. If you are considering applying for a particular position with a company, run them through the Better Business Bureau and see their reputation. How many complaints have been filed, what kind of complaints have been filed, and how quickly were they resolved?
Every company has problems along the way, but seeing how they treat their clients and address these complaints can give you some insight into how they treat their employees.
Do you have any other job search tips you can offer? Comment and share below! If you need additional assistance, reach out to Candace to learn more!