The Hidden Job Market has become quite the buzz phrase in the past year. Job search experts allude to knowing where it is (which is a bit comical, since that’s contrary to the idea of it being hidden!). The reality is that the hidden job market is all around us. It isn’t so much a physical location or place in which you find it, but rather changing your behavior to uncover these seemingly invisible jobs. Here are a few tips on how to get started:
1. Begin with the End in Mind – Borrowed from Steven Covey, the end isn’t defined as simply a job. It isn’t just being employed. It’s much deeper than that. It’s about the problems you solve, the type of environment in which you thrive and are happiest (these two are inextricably linked). The more you start defining where you want to be by these terms, versus just a generic job title, the easier it will be to uncover where someone “needs” you most. When you start speaking to what a company “needs” and “wants” you can often define a role for yourself inside the organization. It doesn’t get more “hidden” than that.
2. Network without Asking for a Job – There is no value in introducing yourself to someone as a job seeker. That’s all about your needs, not theirs. First seek to understand, then seek to be understood (more Covey!). You have to establish “what’s in it for them?” The quicker you do this, the better you will be able to figure out who you can both help one another best. Again, when you identify their pain and establish how you can address it, you start making the case for how you will add value to their organization.
It’s all about Give to Get and Paying it Forward. You’ll also find this to be an excellent litmus test in determining the best networkers. The great ones will always try to reciprocate. The not-so-good ones won’t. Hang on to the former and cut slack with the latter. But remember, just because someone doesn’t have a need to hire you doesn’t mean you can’t be great resources for one another. Think about degrees of separation.
Don't have a plan on how to do this? Check out this interview with a professional who found himself in a new city, with no network and unemployed...and listen to how he found a job without ever asking for one.
3. Be Online, but Get Offline – LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are powerhouse resources for your job search. But you shouldn’t be spending the lion’s share of your time online and behind a computer. Just like no one is going to hire a resume, no one is going to hire an online profile.
4. Be a Hub – Position yourself as “the” resource for information in a niche that ties in with the end state you have in mind. Provide information for others and be a resource. Instead of trying to stand out in a crowd, get out of the crowd. By being a conduit for information that your audience (those who are in your field – peers or hiring manager) you make yourself relevant and needed – key components to getting hired.
For more FREE advice like this, enter your name and email address below to receive your Complimentary copy of "70+ Tips to Perfect the Interview."
Check your email inbox for the copy after you click "submit."
2008 – 2012 (c) Career Attraction – All Rights Reserved
Hi Kevin, and thanks for this article! I like that part when you say " you can often define a role for yourself inside the organization".
I think the interesting jobs are those where we do have an input on the content. Co-designing roles with a potential employer may be the most effective use of time. Only if candidates act as problem-solvers, not as job-beggars.
Backlinking you on my blog...
Nice article kev, it motivates a lot
Lilian,
I like your phrase "job-beggars." While I know it's no one's intention to ever come across that way, by submitting to the old job search paradigm, that is exactly where you place yourself - totally at the mercy of the person hiring. Collaboration makes sense for a number of reasons - increases the job seekers bargaining power, gives them more leverage at the table and ensures that the job is truly a good fit (not just based on title and need to hire/be hired).
Thanks for the backlink too!
Best,
Kevin
Richard,
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Feel free to share it with anyone you think might benefit.
Best,
Kevin
With a long dry spell of unemployment one can easily find themselves applying for any job. But that deep, problem-solving, thriving environment approach you were referring to Kevin is crucial. Without it you could land a job that you hate and realise you were better off without it. As hard as it is, sometimes its better to pass up a job even after being unemployed for a long time. If you've waited all this time, you might as well invest your time in evaluating what your employment experience should be: Happy and flourishing.
A company's culture, stability and growth opportunities are all important ingredients to the job hunting process.
Regarding networking, elevators are definitely ideal places you want to strike up a conversation. I did that recently at a journalism convention and got a job lead. If I hadn't triggered the conversation, my elevator buddy and I would have parted ways without saying a word to each other.
Finding a niche for yourself were you are both successful and happy..sounds like a great goal.
Positioning yourself as an authority, and makeing yourself a resource for others sounds like great tips to me.
Adam,
That is EXACTLY what I focus on teaching professionals through Career Attraction University. This is the only way to truly stand out in the marketplace and differentiate with meaning and authenticity.
Best,
Kevin
Furhana,
That is a great example of being authentic and good, basic networking. You never know who you are standing next to, what you can do for them or what they might do for you! Regardless of what comes from that encounter, making that behavior consistent will only net you great things. That is a prime example of what should be happening in an "elevator"...not a speech, but a conversation.
Best,
Kevin
Excellent advice, Kevin. Based on the "do onto others..." principle. Thanks for pointing people in the right direction.
Kathleen Conners has some practical and specific instructions, including actual scripts, in her book "The Thrill of the Hunt" subtitled "Get Real In Your Job Search" that exapand on your points.
Down with Job-begging!
10Q,
George
Started reading What Color Is Your Parachute, Bowles, uses the term "job beggar" too. Essentially, if you discover in yourself what you have to a offer company, then find the company that needs it, go sell yourself to them. Hell, they're looking for you anyway, save them the hassle of posting the job on the internet, filling up their "web drop box" with useless resumes and interviewing the "job beggars." Besides, this saves the recruiters and talent acquisition folks a pile of work. I suppose if everyone looked for work this way, which supposedly has an 86% success rate, recruiters might not be as busy. But we ALL know that ain't gonna happen. It's a lot of work to find a job this way, self assessment, company research, networking. . .Perhaps more work than the job you're after will require you to do!
Read my recent blog entry about - Is there a Hidden Job Market & How do I Explore it? See our blog at http://www.sterliteusa.com.
Russ Koar
I told all my job seekers during my Job Clinics, "Never, never beg for a job no matter what situation you are in." Employer and potential employee are on the same level to negotiate a deal after they discover each other threough whatever media. However, maybe one-third of them think, "It's easy for you to say, Coach." That isn't the right mindset; and that's where career counselors need to re-enforce during traing.
I like Kavin's statement, "Resume won't find you a job; and networking won't give you an offer ." It's all the career strategies, search efforts, and passion to contribute that will pay off. As a coach, I have seen people succeed with pride because they work hard to persuit that dream job with every fiber in their body and soul.
Bernice Kao
Career Coach
http://www.fresnolibrary.org/kcs
bernice.kao@fresnolibrary.org
Methodology, methodology, methodology......find a proven methodology and stick with it. Sales 101.......JB GTNJ
Great article! I could not agree more with its suggestions. I want to go a few steps further and remind people your VALUE increases when you connect with "caring people." That is, people who are willing to endorse you on Linked, request 2nd degree people to you to connect with you and be just one degree away. I also want to encourage people to make clever use of BoxNet for their profile and add a FileSwap link to it farther down the page. I think everyone should have a downloadable resume' and a prove it file to back it up via BoxNet and FileSwap. You also need a multimedia portfolio on Squidoo.com to showcase your TRUE VALUE. Want to see what all that could look like? Visit http://budurl.com/LinkedinToLamar.
Lamar Morgan
Kevin:
After one of your webinars, I really thought the Value Proposition Letter was a good idea. I drafted one, but I haven't sent it yet. I was told by a number of people that it would just get thrown away. If that is the case, why do people do them?
Jo-Anne,
I'm not sure what to tell you except that I haven't found that to be the case with clients of mind using Value Proposition Letters. These targeted marketing letters get a higher response than any other direct mail campaign for the job search I've seen. I'm curious to know what these people are using to get better results.
My recommendation: Use the VPL you've developed, send it out and measure the results. Make sure you follow all the steps in terms of word count, content and targeting the message so you know you are getting a true read on its viability.
Kevin
Some very good contributions here. From my own recent experience of being responsible for building a new multi-disciplinary team of 27 for an LTE network rollout I would emphasise the reality of the "hidden market" and the power of LinkedIn and criticality of maintaining touch with your professional network of contacts. Virtually all of our team was built through personal contacts and not through recruiters. We used LinkedIn in particular as a means of checking 'behind the scenes" as to candidate capability. There is some risk with this approach which is that "fools like other fools" however this approach of hiring people known to others on the team helps deal with a very key factor in team building and that is cultural fit. In a world where many CV's seem to show similar skills the ability to gain an understanding of working style through personal experience/recommendation can make the deciding difference. With respect to VPL's in my view they are useful if you are making a "cold call" approach however I do not find them helpful in addition to a CV if they are sent in response to a published vacancy, they just become another page of guff to wade through. This of course will be dependent upon the style of the recipient of the VPL.
Steve
I love reading these messages. Every time I read them, something different stands out, helps to keep me going and gives me different perspectives. Thank you Kevin for the constant information and reminders!