How to Tap into the Hidden Job Market

Discover Jobs That are Hidden in Plain Sight

How to tap into the hidden job market is actually easier than you may realize. Apparently some people are convinced there’s a secret society that knows about the ‘real’ jobs that are never advertised to the public. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In order to discover jobs that are hidden in plain sight, it’s important to learn what ‘hidden’ means in the recruitment and careers industry.

What the ‘Hidden’ Job Market is NOT

The hidden job market is not some secret handshake society that only a few select and privileged individuals get access to. If any so-called head-hunter claims that you need to pay a fee to tap into a so-called hidden job market, that is a blatant scam. Good recruiters build relationships and have access to hiring managers, but there is no secret list of jobs that only a few get to see.

Usually if a recruiter is aware of a job posting, that is because an employer has already paid money to advertise an open position. In vast majority of these cases, the jobs aren’t hidden at all – but openly posted for job seekers to find … you just have to know where to look.

What is the Hidden Job Market?

The hidden job market isn’t exclusive, professionals just like you can access this pool of job on your own. You don’t need to pay anyone to connect you to the hidden job market. Actually, job seekers stand a much better chance tapping into the hidden job market than recruiters do. The positions that aren’t advertised are found through networking.

Let’s get another myth out of the way: 80% of jobs are not found through networking. That may have been the case over 10 years ago, but please don’t think it’s that way now. Many rank-and-file jobs are actually found through online job boards, not necessarily through networking. Networking still works! However, it’s a different job search world out there today than even a few years ago.

How to Tap into the Hidden Job Market

The hidden job market is literally jobs that are never posted because (a) they are filled internally or (b) they were filled via networking. Because you, the job seeker, cannot influence situation ‘a’ – let’s focus on how you can increases your chances with ‘b’: jobs filled via networking.

Network at Work – If you do not already focus on building relationships in your current workplace, you are doing yourself a disservice. Not only is networking at work critical to your success in your organization, but very helpful to land internal jobs before they ever need to be posted externally.

Volunteering – Because connecting with hiring managers can be a challenge, you stand a better chance meeting potential decision makers through community or social group volunteering than any other method. This is even vastly more successful than networking through professional organizations. If you have an ideal company in mind for your next job – volunteer for a function they are hosting.

Social Events – While you might not think about it, being a member of a neighborhood group or going to your friends baby shower might land you a job. When you extend yourself outside of your immediate social circle, you never know who you will meet – or who they might know.

Traditional Networking – I list this last because, while it still works, the percentage of success is low with traditional networking events or even networking through professional organizations. However, the truth is – you never know. It doesn’t hurt to attend events like these, particularly if you are considering changing your career course and want to learn more about your target industry or profession.

Secrets of the Hidden Job Market

The great thing is: you can tap into the hidden job market on your own. The bad thing is: you have to do some work! Even though tapping into the hidden job market is completely within your power – there are a few nuances you might like to know.

First: in general, your chances of getting networking to work for you are higher the smaller the company is. This is not always the case but larger organizations can be HR driven. In other words, while you might know someone on the inside, you still have to apply through (and be subject to) the standard online application process.

Second: in some cases, knowing someone on the inside might hurt you more than help you. Sound crazy? Know the company you are targeting! Some organizations have been burned by the ‘buddy system’. They hire an employee’s buddy and end up with dead weight on their hands. Some HR departments are even more stringent and picky when you have a reference.

Third: networking takes time to bear fruit. If you wait until you need a job before you start networking – you are already behind the curve. It takes time to build your network. You will land a LOT faster if you consistently keep your network warm, like good coffee.

Leverage LinkedIn

LinkedIn can be your best friend when it comes to the ‘hidden’ job market. Some internal recruiters will canvas LinkedIn to find likely candidates for positions. Even if the job is posted online for anyone to see, over 75% of recruiters will still look on LinkedIn for likely candidates! I have personally landed two jobs through LinkedIn that I never applied to via conventional means.

Learn How to Effectively Use Keywords in Your Profile

Don’t let your LinkedIn Profile slide. It’s extremely important for your job search and you could be missing out on some great opportunities. Make a good first impression with a professional looking photo. Insert your branding statement in your headline and your sales pitch in your Summary with key career accomplishments. Lastly, make sure to use plenty of industry specific keywords and lingo.

Please do not take a selfie for your Profile picture, skip your Summary or write a biography all about you. Tell hiring managers what you can do for them! Add the right skills in your Skills & Endorsements section based on your target jobs. Get recommendations, add your volunteer work, professional memberships, project work, and any publications / patents you have.

Build Your Credibility

If you truly want to maximize your chances with the hidden job market: you must build your credibility as a professional in order to impress future hiring managers. If you like to write, start a blog on LinkedIn. Share your valuable insights, tips and content with relevant professional groups. Video content is also a great way to build credibility and thought-leadership in your professional knowledge area.

Volunteer to speak at professional organizations. If you do not feel confident in your speaking skills, you can hire a coach or become a member of a Toastmasters group in your area to develop your speaking abilities. As you gain confidence, you can also speak at professional conferences. Attending conferences are a great way to network, but so much better when you are a speaker!

If you have the bandwidth, becoming a Board Member of a professional organization is also a great way to become more recognized in your industry. Not only are you giving back to further other’s development, but you gain their trust as well. It’s also another excellent way to network, just on a deeper level.

Tap into the Hidden Job Market

Tapping into the hidden job market is not something that requires a special key or even the help of a coach like me! You are fully capable of making great connections and leveraging your abilities to land your next position – before you even start to apply for jobs. There is no greater feeling than being actively recruited.

Regardless, I do not recommend that you rely on networking alone. We are in the Digital Age and your online presence is important as well. Having an online-compatible resume is critical as well as an excellent LinkedIn Profile. The good and bad part about the hidden job market is: you reap as much as you sow. So, the more focused and diligent you are – the better your chances will become of landing your next great job without applying to a single online job board.

A little bit about me …. my name is Erin Urban (LSSBB, CPDC), I’m a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, a keynote speaker, a certified career growth and leadership development coach with almost a decade of mentoring and coaching successful professional transformations.

There is nothing more rewarding than helping people achieve their dreams!

With an extensive background in leading individual, cultural and organizational change initiatives: my mission is to lift you up to defy your limits and exceed your goals!

Career Growth Contributor on: 
Thrive Global | besomebody.com | Forbes.com