Proven Effective Ways to Navigate Through the “Hidden Job Market,” According to a Career Pro

By Moon Harper

Mar 29, 2024 04:00 AM EDT

Securing your ideal job is not achieved by applying to countless online listings. Numerous outstanding positions remain unadvertised.

An increasing number of individuals are discovering and securing new opportunities through the hidden job market that are not publicly listed or advertised with recruiters but instead are filled through internal candidates or referrals, according to Stacey Perkins, a career and leadership coach at recruiting firm Korn Ferry, speaking to CNBC Make It. Perkins explains that a significant number of excellent positions, around 60%, are not listed on public job boards, which may surprise people.

Here are effective ways to tap into the hidden job market and find your next opportunity:

Start with a Targeted List

In navigating the hidden job market, less is more. Career coach Emily Liou suggests creating a shortlist of no more than ten companies you aspire to work for and allowing that list to direct your search.

Next, identify the key decision-makers at these companies, including the individuals on the teams you are interested in, potential supervisors, recruiters, and human resources managers. Utilize resources like LinkedIn and previous job descriptions on the companies' websites to begin your search.

She adds that maintaining a focused search enables you to establish more profound, meaningful connections that notify you of job opportunities before publicly posting them online.

Liou explains that companies seek individuals with a genuine, sincere interest in their business. As a job seeker, it is easier to cultivate relationships with these decision-makers if you approach your search thoughtfully and intentionally rather than sending the same outreach message to multiple individuals. Even without immediate openings, there's potential for promotions or departures leading to available roles. Liou says being on their radar puts you at the forefront of their hiring considerations.

Take a Personal Networking Approach

Building relationships and networking can feel daunting, but it is the only way to access the hidden job market, explains Perkins.

For instance, one of Perkins' clients told his neighbor he was seeking a new job. The neighbor happened to work for a company in the same field and offered to recommend him for a job opening. As a result, the client is now interviewing for a position at that company.

Perkins mentions that we often overlook the importance of our connections, but notifying family, friends, classmates, and neighbors about our job search can uncover excellent opportunities. However, most of your networking efforts should focus on individuals from your list of preferred companies: recruiters, hiring managers, potential colleagues, and senior executives with whom you would collaborate.

Even if there are no current openings that align with your experience and interests or you do not initially have much in common with the individual, Perkins advises that you explain why you are reaching out or what aspects of their career or company are particularly appealing to you.

In your initial outreach, whether through email, LinkedIn, or in person, it is important to highlight the solutions you can offer and how to address their challenges or enhance current processes.

Choose three specific skills, milestones, or experiences to emphasize in your elevator pitch that would significantly contribute to the organization's success and end with the script below:

"Although I haven't come across any openings for [insert dream job here] at the moment, I wanted to introduce myself and share my expertise, in case future opportunities arise. I'm eager to connect with fellow professionals in [insert field here]. If you're interested in connecting, here's how to reach me!"

Investing time and effort into building meaningful connections and approaching networking with a mindset of contributing to the organization's strength will set you apart from other applicants solely focused on their needs. By doing so, you will be among the first to be notified when a position opens up, says Perkins.