Written by Cherie Simms BASc, CVRP - Career Advisor with Student and Graduate Employment
Did you know that 70% of jobs are not posted? That’s right 70%! Research also suggests that an even larger percentage of jobs are primarily filled through personal and professional contacts. With today’s competitive labour market and an increasing emphasis on networking, it is no surprise that tapping into the job market now requires more than the traditional click-and-apply approach.
Here are some tips and strategies for discovering those 70% of hidden job opportunities:
Not all jobs are advertised.
Some companies rely on referrals from their contacts and employees and many seek to hire from within. This is where networking takes precedence. Although it can seem daunting, you’d be surprised how far a simple greeting and introduction can take you. Start small by letting family members and friends know you are looking for employment and the kinds of jobs you are interested in. From there, consider leveraging social media platforms such as LinkedIn, or challenge yourself to attend a networking or social event that can help you practice your networking skills while meeting new people.
Networking is not one-sided:
While making connections, remember the human on the other side. Although employment is your primary focus, set that aside and focus on getting to know new people intentionally, human-to-human. Once you’ve established a genuine connection you can broach the subject of your employment needs and hopefully this can lead to a referral for a job opportunity.
Research associations related to your field:
You’d be surprised by the number of associations, boards, and unions out there. These institutions help to govern professional practices and usually offer professional development, employment, and networking opportunities. Consider becoming a member, enlisting in training, getting registered or certified in your field, attending networking events or conferences, and checking out your association's job board.
When I was working for an organization specializing in helping people with disabilities find employment, I wanted to become more specialized in my field. I sought out the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals, registered for membership, and became a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist. Shortly after, I discovered a job posting on the College’s job board, it was posted by another member of the college. I applied with my new credentials and was hired.
Decide what your ideal job or work environment looks like:
Some occupations intersect with multiple industries such as human resource management and accounting. Maybe you’re not sure about the industry you want to work in. You can discover your interests by:
- reflecting on that moment that first sparked your interest in your chosen career field,
- considering your hobbies,
- thinking about what you’re most passionate about,
- and, by looking at the problems in the world that you want to fix.
Now, try linking that to a particular industry, organization, company, or even a product. This could help to narrow your search. Perhaps you are a huge sports fan, or maybe you love sneakers. It could be fashion, cosmetics, or food. Maybe you love animals, children, and helping people in need. Research companies in those relevant fields of interest.
Create a shortlist of companies to explore:
Get to know more about the various companies that hire people like you. Consider doing a quick Google search for companies specializing in your field or industry. For example, if you want to work as a personal trainer in Hamilton, search “Gym in Hamilton”.
Google will produce company listings you can research and cold-call. Visit the company websites, browse their social media pages, and check out their career page, if they have one. They may have jobs listed on their website that are not advertised on third-party job boards. For some companies, job vacancies are primarily housed on the company's website. This is especially true for large companies that recruit for hundreds of positions and multiple locations.
Warm up to the idea of cold-calling?
If a company does not have a career page or information about jobs, challenge yourself by cold calling this company to inquire about any potential job openings. Here are some tips for cold-calling:
- Call them, and let them know you were researching them and what you found most intriguing about their business.
- Share a bit of background about yourself and how your skills and knowledge could benefit them.
- Ask if they have any job openings and find out if there is a way to stay connected with them for future opportunities.
Cold calling is not just for unadvertised positions it can also work for jobs that are posted too. It is important, however, to be mindful of job postings that say “NO PHONE CALLS”. Calling an employer who has specifically stated no calls, could disqualify you from the candidacy pool.
Cold calling is an effective way of building a connection with a potential employer and it helps to set yourself apart from your competition.
When my family and I decided to make the move to a new city, I was determined to secure employment closer to where my new home would be. This propelled me to start researching organizations within that area. Luckily there were multiple job openings but one organization stood out to me the most and I was keen on working there. After applying to the position, I decided to take the extra step of calling them to introduce myself. After the initial call, I waited two weeks and followed up again to ensure they received my application and to inquire if they had started the interview process yet. Long story short, I got the interview and, they hired me on the spot.
After they hired me, they explained that each time I called it was perfect timing since they were just talking about the position needing to be filled. They told me they were so impressed with my ability to self-market, that it ignited their interests and made me a top choice on their shortlist.
My former manager said, and I quote, “She not only talks the talk but she walks the walk”.
Believe me, cold calling works!
Leverage social media:
If you’re not ready for a cold call yet, or you still want to investigate this company more, search for them and their people on LinkedIn and connect with them in writing.
As much as cold calling helps you to stand out to an employer, so does connecting with company representatives on LinkedIn. A student once told me that they connected with an employee of the bank they wanted to work for. They established such a good rapport with that individual that when there was a job opening on their team, they reached out to the student and offered to submit their resume as a referral.
Using LinkedIn to connect with a human resource professional at the company you want to work for, can have a similar effect as cold calling. I have experience doing it, so I know that it works. A while back, there was a particular company that I was very interested in working for but I had applied multiple times and had never gotten called for an interview. I decided to reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn not because they had a position posted but because I really wanted to work there. Here’s what I wrote:
Dear XXX
I monitor the XXX website on a regular basis, looking for opportunities that best match my profile. As a matter of fact, I recently applied to your Employment Development Specialist position. I continue to build my credentials for the this type of position and I hope to one day be a suitable candidate. In the meantime, I am happy to establish this connection with you and I look forward to another job opening.
Please stay tuned into my profile for latest updates. I have recently been promoted to Youth Job Links Coordinator. I try my best to stay active planning Job Fairs and Recruitment Sessions and have many events in the works.
Thanks again for accepting my request.
Yours truly,
Cherie
This is the response I received:
Hi Cherie thanks for your email. Please send me an email at work so I can check your resume XXX. It is a bargaining position and may be filled internally but I will take a look in case we go external. Thanks!
This approach led to me gaining access to the recruiter's email which allowed me to send my resume to her directly. Eventually, when another position opened up, I applied, and guess what…I was called for the interview!
Remember, companies are looking for candidates who have a genuine interest in working for them. Show your interest by staying connected; touching base with company contacts not just when jobs are posted, commenting on and sharing the company’s social media posts, and volunteering, if possible.
Volunteering can open the door to employment:
It is a great way to showcase your talents to a potential employer while at the same time building a strong network for references and referrals. It’s not just valuable experience to add to your resume but it can often lead to employment
When I was at University, I landed an unpaid field placement at a local employment and community center. My passion at the time was for working with youth and I was longing to be a youth worker. I made a point of getting to know the managers and staff working in various departments while also proving myself as a valuable team member. Within a couple of months, a solid connection with one of the community managers led to a referral for a part-time Youth Worker position and my career took off from there.
Don’t underestimate the value of volunteering and when field placements or co-op opportunities arise, take advantage of them because they can give you a head start to future career opportunities.
Lastly, take care of yourself:
Job searching can be quite taxing and if you’re an introvert like me, connecting with a lot of people can be even more draining. Be sure to replenish yourself with good self-care practices. This will ensure you can put your best self forward and effectively market yourself to employers.
Happy job hunting!
