The Hidden Job Market

Many unemployed people respond to the published job ads unaware not only of the futility of their efforts but also unaware that there is a significantly greater job market that is untapped by them and hence, remains out of their grasp. Automated Searches This search direction toward public jobs has been exacerbated by the sense of security offered by plethora of on-line job search engines, job-hunt clubs and automated job postings. Just because a ineffective method has been tweaked or peaked by automation it will still never be the right direction for a job search. It is just as much an improbable situation as thinking that an automated submarine will now be able to fly. The alternative is to explore the Unseen job market – one that numbers about 100 new job opportunities per day in a 1 million population city. If not Published, then Where? Between 60% and 80% of all jobs that become available are not seen by the public, which we call the “Unseen” jobs. That imbalanced percentage alone justifies the pursuit of the Unseen job market. But there is even better news for such job seekers: less than 5% of people looking for work pursue the Unseen job market. You do the math: • Unseen: 5% of people looking at 70% of the jobs or • Public: 95% of people looking at 30% of the jobs. No wonder the job search seems like a zoo! The Unseen Job Market Pam, who is extremely busy, had her righthand man, Brad, suddenly resigned. She has been desperately looking for 2 weeks to fill the void left by Brad who up and quit for no apparent reason. In these 2 weeks Pam not only has had to do her own job, she has had to fill in for the priority tasks associated with Brad’s job too. Pam worked 60 hours a week before Brad left and with Brad’s departure, her weekly hour count has shot up. Not only has this made Pam’s life miserable, it has made it almost impossible for Pam to systematically search for a replacement for Brad. The Terrible Alternative The first problem is that the public job search is like a lottery. Remember the 95% of job-seekers looking at 30% of the jobs? There may be dozens of applicants for this job. So aside from any other consideration if you are among a dozen applicants your chances are 1 in 12. That is a terrible ratio. You would walk away from a poker game if you were confronted with such odds. Finally, after countless applications, many without any response whatsoever, and the sense of futility, the job-seeker begins to realize the awful truth – if they are fortunate – that they are not going about the job hunt the right way. The less fortunate ones either develop a negative fatalistic attitude (There is no job in the cards for me now) or worse, a negative self esteem (What’s wrong with me?) Of course there is nothing wrong with you; you still have great skills to offer the market – just as you had in your previous job. And, forget the fatalistic approach: there is a great job waiting for you – in fact, there probably are two or three terrific jobs. What happens in the Unseen? Once you engage in pursing the Unseen job market within your skill set, you will reach a point where, thanks to a good friend or a connection, you arrive on Pam’s doorstep. She has a job that needs to be filled. Based on the assumption that you are qualified for the opening (otherwise you wouldn’t be considered for the job and you wouldn’t want the job, anyway) Pam, upon seeing that you are qualified, views you as a gift from heaven. She’s in a crisis and you, by accepting the job, could relieve her of her current considerable unpleasantness. Does Pam have a list of six candidates to inspect? Not likely. In fact, to date you are the first qualified person to come in her door. Is she going to wait for a few more qualified people to show up? No! She’s desperate for relief. If you fit, you will get the job. Finding the Job The point of this article is to tell you that you should spend your greater efforts looking in the ‘Unseen’ job market rather than the reverse – the publicly advertised job market where most people search. You need to develop a program of contacting people that will ultimately lead you to an opportunity. Summary Focus on the right job market – the unseen one – not only increases your odds by one hundred to one, but also such pursuits often results in your being the only applicant for the job. The Unseen job market avoids all the difficulties of rejection in the public job market, because employers while they’re in a hurry, they are in a hurry to fill the job, not to reject people. 2009-10-02T15:01:29Z

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the-hidden-job-market

2009-10-08T15:03:55Z

2009-10-08T17:05:22Z

Many people in career transition respond to the published job ads unaware not only of the futility of their efforts but also unaware that there is a significantly greater job market that is untapped.

The Hidden Job Market

2009-10-08T17:05:22Z