A Speculative Approach to the Hidden Job Market
Find Unadvertised Work via Internet Search, Cold Calling, Networking
Jun 3, 2009
Job opportunities arise not only through membership in recruitment boards and closely following newspaper ads, but also through what Careers Scotland call "the hidden job market." These are unadvertised job openings that a job seeker may chance upon, if he/she has the drive and determination to pursue these "hidden jobs."
A Job Seeker's Action Plan
Access to information sources such as the internet, newspapers, trade journals and telephone directories is very important. Networking with reliable personal or business contacts often yields valuable inside knowledge about vacancies. Information collated from these sources will help one come up with a list of prospective companies and organisations. Making this list of target employers will help streamline and save time for the job hopeful. In short, the job seeker needs to come up with his/her own action plan for the hidden job market.
The Importance of an Effective Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letter
A job seeker must bear in mind that an effective and updated curriculum vitae and "an equally effective accompanying letter" or cover letter will get excellent results. It is not advisable to send out a generic cover letter. The cover letter must be written accordingly, discussing the specific opening at the target company. This way the target company will feel that the applicant has spent time on composing the letter, and that he/she is serious about working with them.
Speculative Approaches to the Hidden Job Market
The following speculative approaches are "amongst the most powerful" ways of making inroads into "the hidden job market:"
1. Networking and Navigating a Company Website
When navigating around a target company website, one may immediately find the obvious under Jobs, Vacancies, Employment Opportunities, Careers, Working@name of company, Working for us, or Work with us. If this is the case, clicking on any one of these words may open up a list of job openings and an application pack that may include the official company application forms, person specifications and a guide on how to apply for the advertised positions.
The job seeker needs to follow instructions to the letter. For example, if the company wants the applicant to fill out the box allocated for Complete Employment History, then one must do so. Never write "Please see or refer to accompanying CV and cover letter."
If a job vacancy is not openly advertised under Jobs, Vacancies, Employment Opportunities or Careers, click on "About Us" or on "Profile". Some organisations such as schools put their vacancies under these headings. If not, check "Contact Us", where vacancies and e-mail addresses of pertinent persons like company directors, administrators, secretaries, bursars, or human resource managers, may be found. Since a job seeker's aim is to land a job, it is best to select the person to send a speculative e-mail to. The higher the rank, the better one's chances of getting noticed. Attaching a CV and cover letter increases the possibilities of a personal interview.
The Links page is another important source of information for job seekers. This will lead to more prospects. Vacancies also come under the headings, Staff or Staffing. If one does not find job openings under any of the above-mentioned headings, then one checks Sitemap, where website topics are enumerated. Jobs also come under the most inconspicuous titles. A good example is that of an international school's advert, which put its job openings under "The Lion's Den."
2. Cold Calling and the Telephone Directory's Yellow Pages
The local yellow pages are teeming with information that needs processing. Prospective employers are just a telephone call away. This is Cold Calling, when a person enquires about vacancies sans referrals. This may get the caller that most coveted interview, and eventually, a job.
It takes careful planning and a good level of self-esteem. Before calling, the job hopeful must write down his/her skills needed for the target job, anticipate difficult questions and formulate good answers, and if possible, a practice call/interview with a friend will prove valuable.
Job hunting is oftentimes stressful. But sheer drive and determination, coupled with an effective action plan in exploring a very lucrative "hidden job market," will eventually lead to one's dream job.
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