The Hidden Job Market
   What is it?
           Where is it?
                    How do I find it?

There is a huge hidden, or unadvertised job market.  It consists of the jobs that are not advertised publicly, and can make up 75% to 80% of the total job market.  The result is that the work you want may not be advertised at all or not advertised in traditional ways.  These positions are filled by – or created for – candidates who come to an employer’s attention through employee recommendations, referrals from trusted associates, recruiters, or direct contact with the candidate. 

WHERE TO START:
Once you have identified what it is you want from your job and your selling points
(see Self Evaluation), which answers why should an employer hire you, it is then time to network and to begin a personal marketing campaign. 

• Develop a list of personal and professional contacts.  Look to friends, business contacts, trade associations and other social organizations. 

• Send your contacts an e-mail and/or call them on the phone.  Let them know that you are conducting a job search, and ask for suggestions or ideas that will point you in the direction of anyone they know who may be able to help continue pointing you further ahead. 

• Every link in the chain of your job search counts.

"The average job campaign looks like this: NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES."
-Tom Jackson, an expert on the job search

Using the hidden job market is a lot of work and often requires skills that are sometimes uncomfortable for many of us. 

• Get help from Career Services on working your plan. 

• Attending workshops hosted by Career Services will help you get “grounded” and solve problems along the way.  The hidden job market represents a great opportunity.  If this is the case, then it’s time to start looking harder and deeper. 

PRINTED & ELECTRONIC RESOURCES:
These may be obtained from Career Services, the TWU Library, other university
libraries, public libraries, or on the Internet.