There's a Marine Corps saying that if there's a hard way and an easy way, then take the hard way. You could say that job hunting is the same way. Job boards put everything within easy reach, but they only represent less than 20% of available positions. Unfortunately, the majority of job hunters are competing for the same small pool of jobs and getting turned down.
As for the more than 80% of job openings that are unlisted, the best way to find them is through networking and word of mouth. So ask your contacts if there are any jobs in their company.
Since most companies try to promote from within or rely on employee referrals, this can be a good opportunity for outside candidates, according to Steven Rothberg, founder of job website CollegeRecruiter.com in Minneapolis.
So here's what you need to do on this hard road known as the job search.
Look for signs by keeping up with what's going on in your industry. Read trade journals, follow analyst commentary and monitor the stock market for indicators showing which companies are growing, restructuring or contracting out services. Both good and bad news can lead to staff changes so check company websites regularly as well as Facebook pages for jobs since they may not be advertised elsewhere.
Make a list of companies that you'd like to work for and research relevant positions within those organizations. You can find job descriptions on career websites and industry blogs. For newly created jobs, try Glassdoor.com, a site offering inside job information that is supplied by anonymous employees.
Only apply to jobs that closely fit your skills and experience. Susan Strayer, a career coach in Washington, says these days you need to be as close to 100% as possible.
When going through your personal network of colleagues, don't forget family and friends. The goal is to find inside connections that can forward your résumé to decision makers. If you don't have a direct line, try reaching outside of your immediate network to friends of friends, old classmates or even cold call somebody in a useful capacity who can offer inside intelligence about company culture. Don't overlook contacts working for company vendors. They are often seen by decision makers as trusted sources of referrals.
The more senior you are, the smaller the network tends to be, so join professional trade organizations and attend trade shows, conferences and seminars.
Be easy to find
Make yourself easy to find. Promote your availability by posting your résumé on networking websites like LinkedIn.com and on specific industry websites like ClearanceJobs.com or Edjoin.org, a website for educators.
Emphasize any unique skills on your résumé since companies will search online databases when they have specialized needs.
Follow up is very important, especially with employers since first hiring picks don't always work out. The same job may get reposted six months down the line and you want to be available to that employer before they post the new job.
Outline your career objectives. It is important to determine which job position you want to find. Some people may decide they want to advance their career and become a manager or director, while others may be comfortable taking directions from others, but they want to be paid more.
You need to make a list of your
interests, skills, and goals and use them when you are looking for
an unlisted job. The list must also include critical information
like the salary you need and the salary you want.
Include information about the hours you are able to work and if you need to have a flexible work schedule due to other obligations. The list should include the amount of time you are willing to travel for the new job and other factors that will impact your chances. Having this list ready will help you find a company and a job that meet your expectations.
Find a fit
Find companies that fit your criteria. For example, if you want to work for a company that has access to good golf courses, lakes, and no snow, you might want to consider companies in the Southern states. The company needs to fit your physical demands as well as your work-related criteria.
Internet search engines can help you find a company if you are looking for one based on location. Make a list of 5 companies that meet your criteria and then determine which ones you want to contact. The list needs to include information about the company mission statements, work environment, culture, and history. Once you have this list compiled, it will be able to see which companies match up with your job requirements list.
Decide which factors are the most
important to you. If you have children and you need a flexible work
schedule, this will be one of the deciding factors for you. Look at
the companies that offer flexible work schedules and are
family-oriented. Some companies even provide daycare services to
their employees.
Another large deciding factor for many people is the work environment. You need to be able to get along with your co-workers and believe in the mission of the company. This should also be one of the deciding factors in selecting a company.
Next, it's time to start contacting the companies. Write a letter to the company and the individual in charge of the department and discuss your interest in working for the company. You need to clearly explain why you want to work for the company and briefly list some of your knowledge and skills that can benefit the company. You should provide this individual with some knowledge you have obtained about the company through your research.
The only way to find the unlisted job opportunities is to keep looking. If you are rejected from one company, contact another one company. Like we said earlier, even if a company doesn't have any job openings right now, they may still keep your resume on file and hire you at a later date.
Airline companies are notorious for interviewing people and then placing them on a waiting list for several months while they wait for positions to open.
Be patient and persevere. It's the
only way to find an unlisted job opportunity. It may be harder than
searching the job sites, but if you put in the effort, your chances
of finding the right job increases significantly.
