The Hidden Job Market, Stages 1-3
By Kevin Donlin | May 27th, 2008
A recession — or the threat of one — can be great news for smart, persistent job seekers.
Right now, more job openings are going underground because hiring managers, fearing a tsunami of resumes, are reluctant to place ads online or in the newspaper.
That means there are more unadvertised jobs. And less competition for them, because the vast majority of job seekers still confine their search to the advertised job market: Monster, HotJobs, the newspaper classifieds, etc.
All of which is good news for you … IF you’re willing to do take the time and effort required to tap the “hidden” market of unadvertised jobs.
One way to do it is to on the radar of a hiring manager in the first 3 of the 4 stages a job goes through before being filled.
Here they are …
Stage 1: A job opening first exists in the mind of a hiring manager as a small headache (”I wish we could increase sales/customer service/production.”) that later turns into a wish for help. If the right person comes to mind, the hiring manager calls them for for an interview.
Stage 2: A job opening then exists within the company, where the hiring manager attempts to fill it by offering it to an existing employee.
Stage 3: A job opening then exists within the company’s network of friends, family, vendors, clients and other outsiders, as word gets out that help is wanted.
Stage 4: If stages 1-3 fail to produce a candidate, the job opening is advertised.
If you can get into the mind of the hiring manager at stages 1-3, you have little or no competition.
That’s why it’s so important to know 1) where you want to work and 2) who can hire you, so you can 3) devise a plan for staying in regular touch with those decision makers.
How do you stay in touch?
Write a newsletter, blog, interview experts to write articles, speak in public, buy them coffee, attend the same conferences, join the same associations, etc.
How you stay in touch with hiring authorities is not as important as simply making the commitment to do it.
Remember: It’s not their job to remember you. It’s your job to make yourself unforgettable. That’s how you gain access to “stage 1-3″ openings, which make up the hidden job market.
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