Hidden Job Market

[geek84]

Good Morning folks

I hope you're all well. A lot of you may have heard that only 20% of jobs are advertised and the other 80% of the jobs remain unadvertised and are in the 'hidden job market'.

Can anyone suggest how to tap into this hidden job market?

Has anyone found a job this way?

Thanks

[MrOrange]

Word of mouth, friends, recommendation, head-hunting, recruitment agencies, direct approaches, down the pub, internal placement, nepotism. All come before spending money on recruitment ads.

[dundarach]

I've known people employed by direct letters to an establishment.

I'm talking schools here, probably as they have lots of temp work in terms of supply etc.

However any business with high absence or high staff turnover, might be worth a shot??

I was once employed via an agency, however it's a horrible brutal way to go.

Spam CV's seem pointless.

I would draft some nice letters and get posting!

Also networking with friends, linked in seems pointless to be honest, however what about facebook, get asking around??

[geek84]

Thanks folks.

I am thinking of sending my CV to local companies, do you think that is a good idea or a bit of a long shot?

Thanks

[Doofus]

geek84 said:

Thanks folks.

I am thinking of sending my CV to local companies, do you think that is a good idea or a bit of a long shot?

Thanks

Send a decent cover letter too. You have nothing to lose.

[CAPP0]

It's definitely all about networking. My last two positions came from someone who I knew coming direct to me with an offer. I've also had 3 or 4 approaches from other people for other roles over the past year or two. I followed one of those up and received an offer by the time I got home from the interview, but I was persuaded to stay where I was. I've recruited people myself the same way (and have another two on the go like that at present). No advertising or agencies at all.

It's all about making and maintaining contacts. "Hi, how's things, must be about time we caught up for a coffee?" is part of my regular schedule.

[Integroo]

It depends on the sort of jobs you're applying for and your skillset. Want to let us know?

[edc]

If you are going to send a CV then follow up. But before that do your homework. Who are you going to send it to?
If the companies are local drop in if possible to hand it in. Ask for their business card and follow up by phone or email.
Don't just ask did you receive it? Engage in a proper dialogue, get some understanding of whether they have the sorts of roles you want in their organisation or team currently, ask to keep in touch, ask about their recruitment plans, ask how they like to recruit, etc.
Your CV is just like a flyer or piece of junkmail. It is only if any use if somebody relevant sees it.

[bad company]

dundarach said:

I've known people employed by direct letters to an establishment.

I'm talking schools here, probably as they have lots of temp work in terms of supply etc.

However any business with high absence or high staff turnover, might be worth a shot??

I was once employed via an agency, however it's a horrible brutal way to go.

Spam CV's seem pointless.

I would draft some nice letters and get posting!

Also networking with friends, linked in seems pointless to be honest, however what about facebook, get asking around??

What was brutal about getting employment via an agency?

Why do you have LinkedIn as pointless? I was a recruiter and we often searched LinkedIn profiles for suitable candidates. These were for jobs which would probably not be advertised.

Op, it costs nothing to update your LinkedIn profile so do it.

[chunder27]

Most jobs I get are either these days are either direct approach via a companies job board or from agencies that know me advertising, but rarely the jobs that are advertised, sometimes, not but always.

[dundarach]

bad company said:

dundarach said:

I've known people employed by direct letters to an establishment.

I'm talking schools here, probably as they have lots of temp work in terms of supply etc.

However any business with high absence or high staff turnover, might be worth a shot??

I was once employed via an agency, however it's a horrible brutal way to go.

Spam CV's seem pointless.

I would draft some nice letters and get posting!

Also networking with friends, linked in seems pointless to be honest, however what about facebook, get asking around??

What was brutal about getting employment via an agency?

Why do you have LinkedIn as pointless? I was a recruiter and we often searched LinkedIn profiles for suitable candidates. These were for jobs which would probably not be advertised.

Op, it costs nothing to update your LinkedIn profile so do it.

Agencies only interested when they smelt blood, no interest in me, only my skill set - which is fine I guess, just very cut throat.

I've been on linked in for years with lots of high up (in my sector) contacts, never once had any contacts about jobs. Also when I recruited never ever thought of using linked in, ever.

I'#m public sector however, so perhaps not the target audience for either....?

[Doofus]

geek84 said:

A lot of you may have heard that only 20% of jobs are advertised and the other 80% of the jobs remain unadvertised and are in the 'hidden job market'.

Incidentally, I have also heard this figure and it's bks. It may be that many people land a new job as a result of networking, but in many of those cases, there wasn't necessarily a vacancy beforehand. It's a figure that recruiters, LinkedIn and suchlike bandy about, but it's simply unsubstantiated because it's unprovable.

Why would employers not bother advertising 80% of their vacancies in the hope that the right person just cold-called them at the right time?

I know the OP said 'jobs' and not 'vacancies', but that's semantics. I'm not denigrating the networking, speculative or direct approaches, but I do take issue with the oft-made suggestion that most job seekers are missing out on a 'secret club', because it doesn't exist.

[designforlife]

I got my current job after emailing a company who my friend interviewed with, the role wasn't for him so he passed me their details.

I've also had sevral interviews over the years off the back of speculative email contact with companies.

It's a huge plus for them, as they don't have to fork out thousands in recruiter fees.

[ColdoRS]

My last 4 jobs, spanning the last 12 years have been ‘hidden’.

Been headhunted for the last two, the one before that a friend put me in for and before that my old man done some networking on my behalf.

Some industries are worse(or better) than others for that sort of thing.

[bad company]

dundarach said:

Agencies only interested when they smelt blood, no interest in me, only my skill set - which is fine I guess, just very cut throat.

I've been on linked in for years with lots of high up (in my sector) contacts, never once had any contacts about jobs. Also when I recruited never ever thought of using linked in, ever.

I'#m public sector however, so perhaps not the target audience for either....?

Public sector is a bit different. We recruited lawyers for several local authorities but usually the job had to be advertised. They were concerned about diversity and ‘word of mouth’ won’t help that.

[Jasandjules]

Integroo said:

It depends on the sort of jobs you're applying for and your skillset. Want to let us know?

Who knows, someone may know of a job coming up and..................

[Flibble]

dundarach said:

Agencies only interested when they smelt blood, no interest in me, only my skill set - which is fine I guess, just very cut throat.

I've been on linked in for years with lots of high up (in my sector) contacts, never once had any contacts about jobs. Also when I recruited never ever thought of using linked in, ever.

I'#m public sector however, so perhaps not the target audience for either....?

Might be your sector. I get a couple of contacts a week on linked in from recruiters. Seems like the main place they look for talent these days.

[Sheepshanks]

bad company said:

Public sector is a bit different. We recruited lawyers for several local authorities but usually the job had to be advertised. They were concerned about diversity and ‘word of mouth’ won’t help that.

"usually"?

My wife and both daughters work in the public sector - seems as bad as the private sector companies I've worked at for dodgy recruiting practices, which, to be fair, have sometimes benefited my family members.