Expert tip: Find the 'hidden job market'

If you’ve done a thorough job search and there’s nothing worth applying for, what more can you do? The answer, according to career coaches, is quite a bit, actually.

Despite the current conditions, where year-on-year hiring is down, and there are reports of thousands of applicants going for single roles, it’s worth looking into what some call the ‘hidden job market’.

This is the term given to roles that were never formally advertised. It’s the realm of head hunters, word-of-mouth referrals, and other behaviours that seem completely out of the blue. Career Coach Adele Leah tells Get Hired Australia, “Advertised jobs only make up 20%-25% of roles that are actually available. That means 75%-80% of jobs aren’t advertised.

"The way companies recruit today is very different from five or 10 years ago. People are turning to their professional networks to find talent, so we’re seeing less roles being advertised.

"That’s why it’s so important to understand and navigate the hidden job market. By doing that, you’ll reduce your risk of missing out on the role you really want. You’ll also get your name in front of the right people for the right reasons, and futureproof your career."

Career coaches and professional development experts are sharing their best advice to get you into a role that you won’t find advertised anywhere. Here are the highlights:

Approach your favourite company

Andrew Phan: Create a list of companies they would work for, including competitors and alike companies. Then, reach out to the HR or contact person just to build that first connection.

You don’t need to discuss available jobs in the first message. See if there is common ground.

Pauline Bright: Lots of jobs are won before they're advertised so getting to know a company well and approaching them with what you can bring to their game will help you stand out.

See a problem? Present yourself as the solution

Crystal Barrow: As many companies and employers are in assessment mode, it’s a great opportunity now (and any time) to network and reach out to decision-makers to pitch skills that can help solve problems and help meet organisational needs and goals.

Sally Watson: First know what YOU want, what is important to you in your next role. Then know your value.

What problem do you solve for your future team or company. Once you are clear on these two elements – begin the fun of leveraging your network and utilising LinkedIn to its full potential.

Make word-of-mouth work for you

Natasha Spencer:

Who do you know in your network and then go one step further ask – who do they know in their network that could potentially help you to get to where you want to be.

Sarah Burgess: One of the things I suggest is downloading your LinkedIn connections into a spreadsheet. You can do this in settings and privacy, how LinkedIn uses your data, then click on connections.

Then spend some time adding some sort criteria, how influential the individual is, how well you know them etc. Sort the spreadsheet to help identify those people you think will be most helpful in your job search and spend some time contacting those people.

Join forces with your industry

Doug McKay: Look to create a breakfast circle discussion group with peers in your industry to build connection and discuss “hairy” issues facing the group. I’ve seen these start from five people to twenty or so – if you are the instigators and chair it supports your reputation as a subject matter expert and collaborator.

Spend this time figuring out what makes you special

Cate Lobley: Chaos is the most amazingly creative energy. So instead of looking outside for answers, take advantage of this window of opportunity to tune inwards and ask yourself what you really want.

Is there something you've always wanted to do – even secretly?

Alexandra André: My biggest tip would be to go inwards first. Use it as an opportunity to re-assess what drives you & what you love doing.

What’s your purpose, your ‘why’? If you can get clear on that, then you can get creative about what roles & what companies might be aligned to you.... not the other way round. And if they don’t exist, then consider doing your own thing. Passion never fails.

Volunteer with purpose

Kirsty Marriott: I advise if you’re currently looking for opportunities in a new industry and not having much luck, an alternative option is to take a paying job to get some money coming in and look for volunteer opportunities in your passionate field. It's a great way to gain experience and make contacts for when there might be a job available.

Look after yourself

Lois Keay-Smith:

Reward yourself for your efforts, not your outcomes.

Kylie Kilpatrick: The first piece of advice I always give is to write down a list of reasons why someone should hire you and what you can offer to your network and new employer. That tends to boost confidence and allow job seekers to communicate their skills and value add with clarity from the get-go!

If you need a hit of confidence, look no further than Goldie Chan's LinkedIn Learning course on personal branding.

This course is free until the end of the month. We'll share one unlocked LinkedIn Learning course each week, so be sure to sign up to Get Hired Australia by hitting the 'subscribe' button.

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