Searching for a new job?
Most people spend hours trawling through job sites and clicking “apply”. Then, they wait by their email hoping for a reply that never comes.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the issue:
The best work opportunities never get advertised. They get filled before they even become publicly known. This is the hidden job market. It changes everything about how job searching should be approached.
The good news is that networking is the key to the hidden job market. And, it’s easier than most people think.
So, let’s dive in!
What You’ll Learn:
- What Is The Hidden Job Market?
- Why Networking Beats Online Applications
- 5x Proven Networking Strategies To Find Work Opportunities
- How To Turn Connections Into Job Offers
What Is The Hidden Job Market?
The hidden job market are positions that are never advertised.
Instead of posting jobs on public sites, they get filled by referrals, internal candidates, and direct recruitment. Companies reach out to those they already trust instead of taking a chance on the unknown from an online job board.
Think about it:
Hiring new employees is expensive and risky for employers. When they can trust someone who has been recommended by a current employee… They skip the job ads entirely. It happens a whole lot more than most people think.
In fact, research from The Interview Guys indicates that up to 70% of jobs are never advertised publicly. That means anyone applying only online is trying to compete for a fraction of the real job market.
Mind blowing, right?
The hidden job market is exactly why job seekers exploring work opportunities with Afnicareers and other job sites need to combine online searching with active networking. Sites like Afni careers help connect job candidates and employers. But networking opens the door to work opportunities that never make it on to any job board.
Why Networking Beats Online Applications
Job sites are overcrowded. VERY overcrowded.
Posting a job publicly attracts hundreds of applications in days. Sticking out from that crowd is nearly impossible. But, here’s the secret…
Referrals are treated COMPLETELY differently.
Data from StandOut-CV found that candidates with referrals are hired in just 29 days. Job board applicants take 55 days on average. That’s a 47% reduction in time to hire. Employers trust referrals more. They move quicker on them.
Makes sense, right?
Word of mouth recommendation from a trusted employee carries weight. The signal that the candidate is someone they can trust and that will be a good fit. It’s a shortcut that saves companies time, money, and risk.
Job seekers should take away that networking isn’t just a helpful extra. It’s ESSENTIAL. Especially when looking for those competitive work opportunities in difficult job markets.
5x Proven Networking Strategies To Find Work Opportunities
Okay, so now on to the strategies that actually WORK.
These will help you tap into the hidden job market and find work opportunities that others never see.
1. Leverage Existing Connections First
Start with your own network first.
Past colleagues, school friends, family members, neighbors… Tell them about your job search. Be clear and specific about the work opportunities you are targeting.
The secret?
Everyone really does want to help people. But, they often have no idea how to. A simple text or email that says you’re looking for work and is specific about what types of positions you are interested in can open up a lot of unexpected doors.
2. Use LinkedIn Strategically
LinkedIn is a goldmine for networking. When used correctly.
Don’t just scroll and refresh. Contact people in the target companies. Send connection requests with personalized messages. Reach out and make an effort. Comment on, and like, posts by people in target fields or jobs.
Building this level of visibility and connection takes time. But many hiring managers and recruiters scout LinkedIn for potential candidates long before they even post a job ad publicly.
3. Attend Industry Events
In-person networking still has power. Masses of it.
Industry conferences, local meetups, professional association events get job seekers face-to-face with decision makers. It creates lasting, memorable impressions that online applications cannot.
Virtual networking events are also valuable for those unable to attend in person.
4. Request Informational Interviews
Informational interviews are seriously underutilized.
Simple, yet effective. Reach out to a pro in a target industry and politely ask to learn about their career path and job responsibilities. Most will be happy to chat about their experiences for 15-30 minutes over coffee, or virtually.
It’s networking with a purpose. Build genuine relationships with someone who can remember you when a position opens up at their company.
5. Follow Up Consistently
Networking doesn’t stop after the first conversation.
Relationships are built on constant follow up. Check in with contacts. Send a “nice to see you” message on birthdays. Pass along articles or congratulate someone on an accomplishment. Keep that relationship “warm”.
Warm means that if a connection thinks of someone for a job opportunity, you are one of the first names that pops in their head.
How To Turn Connections Into Job Offers
Networking and building a list of connections is one half of the equation.
Turning those connections into real job offers is the next step.
Provide Value First
Networking should not be one-sided. Before asking for favors, find ways to be of service to connections. Give useful information. Make introductions. Be helpful with no immediate expectation of reciprocity.
Doing this builds “goodwill”. People are more willing to help others who have helped them.
Be Specific About Goals
Generic requests get ignored. Instead of saying “keep you posted if I hear of anything”. Be specific. Include target job titles, companies, or industries.
Specificity allows connections to see relevant opportunities. It also allows them to recall you when they think of something.
Ask For Referrals Directly
When someone in a network works at a company with an open position. Ask directly if they would be willing to make a referral.
Most will be happy to do that if asked. It’s simply rare that people volunteer without a prompt. Don’t be afraid to ask.
Wrapping It Up
The hidden job market exists. Networking is how to get into it.
While job sites are important, putting all of your eggs in that basket means missing the majority of available work opportunities. Those opportunities are captured by job seekers who networked and built relationships before positions were ever advertised.
So, just to recap:
- Up to 70% of jobs are in the hidden job market.
- Candidates with referrals are hired 47% faster than those using only job boards.
- Start networking with existing connections.
- Use LinkedIn, events, informational interviews strategically.
- Follow up and provide value before asking for help.
Job searching doesn’t have to mean sending endless applications and waiting for silence. Networking allows anyone to tap into hidden work opportunities that many other candidates never even know exist.
So start building those connections today. The results may surprise you.
