The Hidden Job Market

You can either be passive or aggressive in your job search. A passive approach entails looking for openings in your local newspaper, job service agency or other avenue where you will be battling many others for the same position. Although this is less demanding on your time, it also yields minimal results.

An aggressive approach involves burning up some shoe leather, knocking on doors, calling companies about positions not yet advertised, and simply outmaneuvering your competition. It is called the hidden job market and yields the very best results. Statistics show that 80% of the jobs are actually to be found within the hidden job market.

Ask yourself this question. Would you prefer to respond to an advertised position with 200 applicants, or be the first one in line for one that has not been advertised? If you can impress them and meet their qualifications, there is a good chance the position may never be advertised. You might just get the job!

Try to identify key decision-makers at a company, preferably in the area or department in which you would like to work, and get your resume directly into their hands. It is much better for an executive or manager to contact the HR department and request you for an interview than to try to cold target through the HR director.

Getting your resume into the hands of key company staff can be tricky, but not impossible. One technique I like to use is to use a directory that lists various area companies and key personnel in the company. These can be found at your local library.

Once I have identified a target, I then call the company and verify that the specific individual is still in charge of the department I am targeting. If the individual is no longer on staff, I simply get the full, correctly spelled name of the replacement. I then sign my cover letter, seal up the envelope with the cover letter and resume inside, and hand deliver it as absolutely close as I can get to my target.

The critical part is to not put a return address on the envelope (it is the first thing they toss out), and hand write the individual's name on the envelope. Don't mark it personal or anything else that so obviously says otherwise. If you can get it to the individual's secretary, so much the better. I usually say something like, "I was told to deliver this, Mr. Jones is expecting it." And then I leave. This is your best shot at jobs that are not advertised.

Networking is one of the most overlooked techniques for ferreting out job opportunities, yet can also be very productive. Simply put, networking is telling everyone you know that you are looking for work. You do need to ensure you indicate the type of position you are looking for so your friends or relatives don't just try to line you up for every opening and then wonder why you aren't interested.

Among the resources you should employ when looking for a job are business directories, college placement offices, federal government offices, Internet job posting sites, newspaper classified ads, public library resource center, trade journals, chambers of commerce, company personnel offices, industry trade publications, local government offices, private employment agencies and state job service agencies. Temporary agencies often produce some good temp-to-hire opportunities.

With unemployment dropping, and millions of job openings available in the global marketplace, it is our sincere hope that you find your one in a million!

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