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Almost 75% of jobs are never advertised -- how can you tap into
this hidden job market
Nimish Thakkar
Ask anyone about their favorite job
search strategies and the answer will be almost unanimous:
classifieds. Now, ask the same people how they found their last job
and most will have a story that involves some form of networking tied
into it.
Career experts estimate that at least 75% of job openings are never
advertised. These unadvertised jobs are often referred to as the
hidden job market. Imagine, almost 90% of the labor pool targets less
than 25% of available jobs. Is it any surprise, most job seekers never
receive a response from potential employers? So how are these 75% jobs
filled? The answer is networking.
In order to maximize returns from your job search campaign, it is very
important to use a combination of job search strategies. In addition
to classifieds and other job search tools you may already be using,
consider adding networking to the mix.
Network your way to a
job offer
Visualize the following scenario: It is peak January and Ms. Hiring
Manager is inundated with deadlines and reporting obligations.
Suddenly, Mr. Hurry, a key player on her team, is lured away by the
competition. Ms. Manager is at her wits end because in addition to her
regular workload she has to work with HR to fill this opening. What a
nightmare.
Just then, Mr. Job Seeker forwards his resume to Ms. Manager through a
mutual friend. What a delight. Mr. Job Seeker has the very skill sets
Ms. Manager needs -- all that without going through the hassles or
expenses of a recruitment campaign.
Ms. Manager alerts HR about this promising candidate and asks the HR
manager to ensure compliance with legalities and immediately screen
Mr. Job Seeker. All goes well and Mr. Job Seeker is hired. The company
saved thousands of dollars on a search campaign and Mr. Job Seeker
succeeded in eliminating all the competition that he would otherwise
have to face had he relied only on the help wanted section of the
newspaper. Everyone benefits.
Sound familiar? The foregoing scenario was not a figment of my
imagination. During my professional coaching career, I have come across
hundreds of stories that parallel the fictionalized illustration from
the preceding paragraph. Many of my clients networked and found job
leads (and work) in subways, at bars, during massage sessions -- you
name it. You may think it is serendipity, but I call it the power of
networking.
Statistically, each individual knows at least a few hundred contacts
(friends or friends of friends) and by networking with one new person
every day, you are tapping into a pool of hundreds of potential
contacts every day -- possibilities! From recruiters to subway riders
to hair dressers, almost everyone is a potential networking contact
and by tapping into this pool of contacts, you could easily be a step
closer to your next job.
Related Articles:
Online Job Search: Job Searching In The Digital Age
Common Job Search Mistakes
Career Growth: Strategies for Achieving Career
Success
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We hope you enjoyed
the following article: "Step
out of your comfort zone to shorten job search time."
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