The invisible job market right under your nose

Are you only looking for new roles on traditional job boards? You could be missing out on a huge portion of jobs that are not listed; as much as 80% of all jobs, according to some estimates.
With competition for roles now global and more intense than ever before, both the financial and time costs of listing, advertising and screening a high volume of candidates are seen to be too high for many organisations. With widening job networks and social media creating increased visibility amongst candidates, many roles are being filled before they get the chance to be listed.
While plentiful, actually finding these jobs can be a bit tricky. Here are 5 ways to access the hidden job market.
20-20-60 – the formula for successful job searching
While traditional job postings remain an important bank of potential roles, the key is to moderate the time you spend on them to ensure you aren’t missing out on hidden opportunities. A good way to do this is to apply the 20-20-60 rule, where 20% of your time is spent on traditional job boards, 20% ensuring your LinkedIn profile and resume are up to date and easily found, and 60% networking. Following this breakdown means you are covering all bases and maximising your chance of finding a winning role.
LinkedIn is only useful if your profile is solid
If you think simply having a LinkedIn profile is enough to attract potential recruiters, think again. We’ve spoken about LinkedIn faux pas before; a blank profile, no picture generic buzzwords and failing to list your skills and achievements will amount to a generally useless profile. Your profile should be a reflection of who you are and what you can offer, so make sure it is up to date, professional and compelling. Including a headline that encapsulates what you specialise in, a summary of what you have to offer and a results-based list of your career to date means you are more likely to turn up in a search and more likely to be pursued. If the jobs you want frequently use keywords, make sure those same words are featured in your profile.
Cold calling can lead to warm leads
It might sound archaic, but cold calling can be an effective way of getting your name on the radar of an organisation you aspire to work at. Getting in touch with key decision makers with your chosen organisation could lead to a role not currently advertised, or at the very least a contact within the organisation who may keep you in mind for future roles. Forbes offer a fantastic step-by-step guide to making a great impression, which boils down to showing the organisation how you can help them improve their business and backing it up with your past skills and achievements.
Network based on quality, not quantity
There is a misconception that the larger your network, the better your chances are of aligning yourself with a contact that can help you. While this has some truth to it, having 20 powerful connections you maintain will unquestionably be more helpful than 50 random consultants you could barely pick out of a line-up. Cultivating professional relationships with key decision makers or recruiters within businesses you may be interested in could potentially lead to a referral down the track. Getting referred for a job will automatically increase your chance of an interview; and if the referrer is influential and can testify to your high performance, it could make a huge difference.
Approach job listings in new ways
If you do end up finding your dream job on a job board but know the competition will be fierce, applying via a backdoor can help you stand out from the pack. If you have connected with someone from within organisation, a referral from them may increase the chances of your resume getting elevated to the top of the pile. If you are not a perfect match for the role on paper, doing something left of centre such as illustrating how you solved a problem in the past that is comparable to a problem facing the organisation, can help get your noticed.