How to Access the Hidden Job Market Through Networking

Introduction to the Hidden Job Market

Planning a career in human resource management takes someone who understands people and how to work with them. Even with that ability, it is not always easy to tap into the hidden job market — unadvertised positions that are filled through personal connections rather than public postings. These hidden jobs are not found online or in the newspaper; instead, they are passed along through word of mouth and offered to people who are already part of an organization, group, or inner circle. With that in mind, the real challenge for any job seeker is how to gain access to that inner circle in order to secure the kinds of positions that are needed or desired.

In order to succeed in the hidden job market, networking is the key — but there are several ways to use it effectively. The main ideas behind networking and the hidden job market are to push, pull, and maintain. In other words: push oneself out into an industry, pull others into one's circle, and maintain the contacts that have been acquired along the way.

Pushing Your Name into the Industry

Pushing means that a person is actively working to get his or her name known to others in a given industry. There are effective ways to accomplish this, including volunteering in the industry in which a person wants a job and getting involved in media and press releases about relevant work — provided it is genuinely newsworthy and relates to the desired field in some way (Job-Hunt, 2011). What qualifies as newsworthy depends on the reader, but there are generally recognized ways to disseminate professional information. Another effective strategy for pushing one's name into the hidden job market is to get involved in social and professional groups (Job-Hunt, 2011). These groups can be close-knit, but it is possible to work one's way in and connect with people who are already in — or adjacent to — the industry a person hopes to enter (Bradt & Vonnegut, 2009).

Pulling Opportunities Toward You

When a person works to pull the hidden job market toward him or her, there are also specific strategies that can be employed. These include creating a personal brand and establishing oneself as an author (Job-Hunt, 2011). Personal branding often involves a personal webpage or blog, and extends to social media profiles and a tagline or memorable phrase that helps others recall who a person is and what they do. For those who are skilled at writing, becoming an author can be a powerful way to build credibility. Some people write articles and blog posts, while others go as far as writing a book. That book can be self-published if traditional publishers and agents are not the right fit, or if the person prefers to bypass the traditional publication process altogether (Job-Hunt, 2011). Pulling in the job market by making a lasting impression on others is a highly effective way to be considered for roles in a particular field, industry, or company — but it must be done thoughtfully and consistently, as it takes time to yield results.

Conclusion

Not everyone knows about the hidden job market, and some people do not take it seriously. However, who a person knows is often far more likely to get them hired than what that person knows — at least in certain fields where there is considerable value in being a recognized name or a trusted member of a professional community. Because that is the case, learning how to access the hidden job market through deliberate professional networking can make a significant difference in a person's career trajectory.

References

Bradt, G., & Vonnegut, M. (2009). Onboarding: How to get your new employees up to speed in half the time. John Wiley & Sons.

Bradt, G., Check, J., & Pedraza, J. (2009). The new leader's 100-day action plan. John Wiley & Sons.

Job-Hunt.org. (2011). The hidden job market.