Calvary Assembly of God
Employment Support Group Information and Online Resources ~ 2600 Shipley Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19810 ~ 302-478-1275

Getting Hired: Hidden Job Market

What is the Hidden Job Market?

It is estimated that only 20% of all jobs are ever advertised, meaning 80% of jobs are filled by companies who never advertised the position. Instead these positions are filled by referral, the "who do you know" method of recruitment. So while keeping an eye on newspaper advertisements and Internet job search sites is important, the percentages are in your favor if you investigate the hidden job market.

How to find the Hidden Job Market

The best way to find the hidden job market is by:

Identifying types of employers you are interested in
Find specific potential employers
Finding contacts within the target employer

1. Identify Types of Employers

Identify the companies and organizations that you are interested in. There may be companies you are familiar with and many more that you have never heard of. Most positions are located in smaller businesses, so be sure to extend your search past the Fortune 500 list of companies.

Consider:

Kind of industry you want to work for
Skills sets you want to use
Where you want to live

Information to Look For:

Who hires people who do what you want to do
What industry makes/does what you want to be involved with?
What employers are in your geographic area of interest?
Who do you already know?

2. Find Specific Potential Employers

Your Network
- Tap into your network of professional and personal contacts to identify potential employers. Learn more about networking and informational interviewing.
Career Discovery Center
- Schofield 230. Numerous directories are located here for you to begin finding potential employers including Reference USA available at Career Services.
Library
- Additional directories and sources of information
Internet
- Research both industries and companies online
General Job Search Sites

Find positions that use your skill sets. What types of employers are hiring those positions?

Yellow and White Pages
- Seems old-fashioned, but still the fastest way to find a listing of employers in a specific city or area.
Local Chambers of Commerce
- For the city or region in which you are interested.

3. Find Contacts

Use and develop your network
Ask An Alum & Friends

Author/Reference: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. "Hidden Job Market." Uwec.edu. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 27 July 2010. Web. 04 June 2011. <http://www.uwec.edu/career/students/jobsearch/hidden_market.htm>.

Getting Hired: How To Get Unstuck in Your Job Search.
More Getting Hired Articles

Employment Support Group Main Page | Jobs, Work & Employment Online Resources

Social Networking

Stay Connected On...
America's Christian
Heritage Videos

Christian Business
Leadership Videos

Christian Comedy
Video Playlist

Employment Support
Group Main Page

Matthew 22:34-40 "Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'"

Calvary Assembly of God Church ~ 2600 Shipley Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19810 ~ 302-478-1275