The Hidden Job Market

View our online networking workshop at http://www.stpaulcareers.umn.edu/workshops.html.

There are two major places where jobs and employers are found. They are the Open Job Market and the Hidden Job Market.  While you can certainly spend time searching in both areas, statistics indicate that you will have significantly greater success securing a position using the hidden job market.

The OPEN job market is where jobs are publicly advertised such as newspaper ads, large national internet sites, job training centers, and employment agencies.  In the open job market, you often can find job openings to apply for, but your odds of securing the position are significantly reduced.  This is because you are competing with literally hundreds of applicants many with skills equal to or better than yours.  Only 20% of all jobs are found in the open job market!

The HIDDEN job market includes jobs that are not publicly advertised.  They are found through resources such as:

• Friends and relatives

• Direct contacts to the employer

• Informational interviewing

• Former co-workers, supervisors

• Neighbors

• Company/college websites

• Temporary agencies

• Social clubs

• Trade/Professional Association journal, listserves and website

In the hidden job market, you are selling yourself on a one-to-one basis through a network of contacts.  This is more effective because employers have a relationship with you personally and are more confident about your fit.  Once you find an opening, your competition for the position is smaller increasing the likelihood you will secure the position.  To learn how to best tap into the hidden job market read about Networking and Informational Interviews.