Job boards are no longer anywhere as significant as they used to be. Research shows that only 30% of available jobs make it to job boards. The majority of jobs are in the so-called “hidden job market”.
Fortunately, you can make life much easier and far more productive by cracking this market.
The reason this so-called “hidden job market” even exists is simple – employers prefer to hire people who are the least risk or in other words – less likely to screw up. Not to be pessimistic, but hiring often prioritizes self-preservation before anything else.
The trick is to move up the value chain by becoming known to the people who need your services and trust that you will do a good job.
To do this you need to tap into the massive network that is all around us and is often hidden simply because we are not actively looking for it.
All this assumes you can legally work in the UK and therefore can get an NI Number.
These people include acquaintances through LinkedIn and job recruiters, people they know outside of work, and those already working in the company in increasing order of preference.
This page aims to help you access this job market and provide an effective means to reach it. This approach is much easier for you as opposed to applying through the job boards which only offer a tiny fraction of available jobs, afford a lot of competition and sometimes offer non-existent jobs. I mean, it goes without saying that thousands of people may have applied for the same job as you. They may even have the same qualifications.
There are five steps in total all of which are easy to follow and understand. By the end of the post, you’ll realize that the hidden job market might be hiding in plain sight.
Step One: Create a list
This step requires you to write down all the people you know who might help you in this search for the hidden job market. These people include recruitment consultants, LinkedIn connections, Facebook friends, family, friends, friends of friends, people you see on day-to-day, colleagues and ex-colleagues, clients and ex-clients, club and group members and even the parents of your children’s friends. The list is not limited to what I have compiled so feel free to add even more of your acquaintances.
Step One shows you just how many people you know. By the end of this step, you will be pleasantly surprised to realize how large your network really is. The list will be expansive for everyone as we are all bound to know more people than we care to find out. It is time to let your 3000+ Facebook friends help you out. When it comes to job hunting, you just do not know who might be the one to help, so keep your options open at all times and stay positive.
Step Two: Categorize them
The next logical step in trying to make these people useful to you is to categorize them by just how well you know them. Create three categories for this purpose.
Category A
should comprise people who you trust and know are willing to help. More often than not these are family, friends you have known for a long time, clients, and colleagues who you are on a first-name basis with.
Category C
should be those you do not know well enough or aren’t very willing to help. This could be some people on social media whose requests you accepted and think you know but aren’t sure or people you only met once or twice. Others were introduced to you by mutual friends.
Category B
are the people in between those two categories.
This should not be difficult to do but will take a while considering the massive list you are working with. Be patient and keep going. It will all pay off in the end.
Step three: Obtain their contacts
Having decided where to place everyone on your list, the next step is getting the email addresses and/or phone numbers of the persons who are on your category A list. Since you know them well, this shouldn’t be difficult. Some contacts will have to be obtained on Facebook and Twitter or even through your mom. The end justifies the means on this one. The persons in B and C will be done later. Obtaining a useful list of personal contacts is paramount for the next step because it creates a means for your message to reach them directly.
Step four: Write two paragraphs
You will need to write two simple paragraphs that will define your next plan in step five. These are the whys, the Whats, and the hows of the job you seek, for example:
Why you would like the job
what job in particular do you want
how are you going to get the job?
This step helps you focus on the exact job you want and are qualified for. The paragraphs should be as follows:
1. First Paragraph: Clarifies what kind of job you want. This entails the following:
- The type of work you are looking e.g. consulting, sales, marketing, communications, project management, finance etc.
- The specific sectors you would like to work in such as banking and finance, healthcare, engineering, insurance, film and TV etc.
- Zero in on one or two example job positions for example project manager, coach or vice-president of marketing.
- Other important factors include the size of the company, the working hours, other perks, company culture, salary needs etc. These serve as a guide to understanding a little more about yourself and what you are all about. The person who has a job for you needs to know all this about you as well.
You may end up seeing yourself as a marketing consultant for a health institution working 8-5 and making $5,000 annually for instance. That’s a start. Perhaps a soccer coach or a language teacher at a local high school. Your ideas are beginning to take shape and your focus is attaining more clarity.
2. The second paragraph should elaborate on your qualifications for the job, that is, suitable skills and experiences. These are the things you would ideally write on your resume. Have you served in the position you are applying for before? How long have you been in this line of work? Answering these questions will help you fill out this paragraph. It also shows why you are the perfect fit for the job. Focus on your value system, and remember that though this may take some work, it is very worthwhile. While this paragraph serves to enable the other person to know you a little better, it also serves as a point of self-assessment and introspection all of which guide you further to the job you really want.
Step five: create a plan
By the time you reach this step, you now know who you are reaching out to and what you want to tell them. This is the action step. You may email them or send a message on LinkedIn. Here’s a sample message:
Hi, I’m a fellow XYZ University alum and came across your profile. I graduated in 2011, with a degree in Arts and have been working in the PR industry for the past few years. I’m currently job hunting and hoping to transition from the agency side into a role at a nonprofit or university. I really admire your career and was wondering if you might be willing to offer some advice or perhaps chat by phone. I would really appreciate your time and would be happy to do anything I can to help you.
Thank you and Go Broncos!
Cheers,
Quinn
A phone call should use the same general format as the message. You should be clear and brief. Precision is important as you relay your needs because you do not expect them to give you a job but rather you seek their advice which is complimentary to them and puts you in a great position!
Important pointers for the call include
- Mention something that you have in common it could be a person, country, or place of education that connects you in some way. This does not have to be work-related, it just serves to break down the invisible wall of unfamiliarity. They may not even remember you but having something in common can make the conversation easier.
- Be upfront that you are job hunting and what you are trying to do. Don’t beat about the bush.
- Ask to meet or speak to them to learn about some aspect of their job or something that could help you towards your goal. Kindly remember that you are not asking directly for work. You want to make it easy for them to say yes and actually, just be genuinely interested in what they have learned. Be courteous and listen to what they have to say. Don’t forget your manners so remember to thank them for their time at the end of the call.
- Remember that portraying confidence and a positive attitude are equally important in carrying this out and go a long way in reinforcing what these people already know about you. Rome wasn’t built in a day so be encouraged to keep going.
I hope you find this helpful. Good luck and have fun!
Table of Contents
Master the Art of Job Hunting in the UK
Your Essential Guide to Navigating and Succeeding in the Competitive UK Job Market
Unlock the secrets to landing your dream job. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or an international job seeker, this book provides the tools you need to craft standout applications, ace interviews, and secure the perfect position. Don’t let the competitive job market hold you back—equip yourself with the knowledge and confidence to succeed with this indispensable resource.
