The Hidden Job Market: Real or Imagined?

The hidden job market has been touted as the place to go if you want to find the best jobs. It's been said that this sector of the job market accounts for seventy-five percent of all the job openings out there. If that is true, then what we see in the classifieds and on the Internet job sites account for only twenty-five percent of all job openings. So the question becomes, is the hidden job market a myth or does it truly exist?

The hidden, or unadvertised, job market does exist, and can be located. When a company advertises a job opening in the classifieds and on the various job sites, it takes three to four months for that position to be filled. Since companies lose money every day a position remains open, advertising a job opening is seen by many as a non-viable approach.

Roughly seventy-five percent of all job openings are therefore unadvertised, which means you will not see them posted on any of the job sites. You will not be aware of their existence. They are indeed hidden opportunities. It is absolutely worth your effort to find these opportunities.

Companies have learned to search for viable candidates using three fundamental strategies other than advertising: networking, using recruiters, and probing the job sites. So how can you take advantage of these approaches to tap the hidden job market?

Networking isn't an approach exclusive to hiring companies. You, too, can engage in networking with all the people you know. As an extremely powerful strategy accounting for roughly 80% of all job fills, networking allows you to get in doors that would otherwise be impossible to enter. You can network your way into potential opportunities that can turn into the right job created just for you. Networking is one of the best ways to tap the hidden job market!

Screening and reviewing hundreds of resumes for accuracy and position viability is time-consuming. When the job-required personality doesn't materialize at the interview, more time is wasted. For this reason, more and more employers turn to recruiters for a more efficient hiring process. A recruiter uses exhaustive screening procedures as part of their candidate search process. They charge a fee to the employer for this service, but it is worth it in terms of time and effort.

Recruiters utilizing keyword searches scour the top job sites in search of candidates to fill their unadvertised job openings. Recruiters will find you as long as your resume is a match to the qualifications of the position they need to fill. So one of the best ways to capitalize on a recruiter's mission, and to indirectly tap the hidden job market, is to post your resume to the top career sites. It's a simple yet powerfully effective way to avail yourself of all the unadvertised positions out there, and take your job search to a whole new level.

Copyright © 2005 TopDog Group All rights reserved.

David Richter is a recognized authority in career coaching and job search support. He has spent many years in recruitment, staffing, outplacement, counseling psychology and career management spanning most industries and professions. David founded TopDog Group in response to the needs of job candidates to have a higher quality of career coaching and support available on the Internet. David understands the mechanisms for success. He has formulated specific strategies anyone can use to secure interviews and receive offers. His extensive knowledge and experience sets David apart in this field, allowing him to offer a wealth of information and a vast array of tools, resources and strategies not found anywhere else. He has shown countless job seekers how to differentiate themselves and leverage their potential to the highest possible level, making a real difference in their careers. David holds both a Bachelors and Masters in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. David's website address is: http://www.procareercoach.com



Travel Writer Jobs, What Are They And How To Find Them

Travel writing jobs are few and far between. Getting into... Read More

What is My Calling?

"What is my calling?" Do any of us really have... Read More

Fear of Being Outsourced? Fight Back

Me, outsourced? Impossible. How could they replace a business-humor columnist?... Read More

Why Human Resources Are The Real Key To Success In This Information Age

The rapid changes that have mainly been brought about by... Read More

Finding Your Ideal Career

In the current climate, many people are looking away from... Read More

Seven Success Tips For Recent Graduates Entering the Professional World

1) Build a Relationship With Your BossLike it or not,... Read More

Resumes OR CV : Get That Job

Your resume is your sales document. It tells the world... Read More

The Computer-Friendly Resume

The evolution of technology is changing the traditional methods for... Read More

Job Interviews -- How to Follow Up Effectively

Getting a job is not just about your performance in... Read More

Creating Your Own Luck

Losing my job in the last recession of... Read More

Self-Knowledge: The Key To Finding The Right Career Direction

Your career, like any journey, has a beginning, an end... Read More

Are You Sabotaging Your Career?

My experience working with thousands of leaders world wide for... Read More

Experience Hear-See-Do

Research indicates that we retain only 10% of what we... Read More

How to Use Flow In The Job Search

What is "flow"? Flow as described by the psychology professor... Read More

One Step at a Time in the Job Search

What is the first step to take in a job... Read More

Making The Best Of Yourself At Interview

You are just about to leave university You are just... Read More

Career in the Toilet?

Individuals not within their target career field may feel insecure,... Read More

The Big Mo : Momentum and the Hiring Process

Momentum as defined by Webster's is: strength or force gained... Read More

Cracking the Connection Code: Networking for the Introverted

We've all heard it before: "Just get out there and... Read More

5 Simple Rules for A Great Job Interview

Many years ago, when I was a young job-searching greenhorn,... Read More

Signs of a Healthy Work Environment

There's no denying that a healthy work environment is a... Read More

Resume Tips To Take You From SAHM to WAHM

When looking for a telecommuting position, it is very important... Read More

How To Prepare For A Telephone Interview

It is important to prepare thoroughly for your telephone interview.Begin... Read More

Job Tips For The Frustrated Job Seeker

There is nothing more frustrating and depressing when you are... Read More

Assess Your Transferable Skills

One of the most important parts of a job... Read More

If you'd like to keep up-to-date,
please complete the form below and we'll put you on the mailing list
to receive our twice-yearly newsletter for supporters

* Your email address:
* choes your language: