The 7 Secrets to the Hidden Job Market

Earlier today we as a staff viewed a webinar hosted by the University of Tennessee's Career Services Center. The speaker was Donald Asher, an industry leader in careers and higher education. He spoke for about an hour on what he calls "The Seven Secrets of the Hidden Job Market". This was a great presentation to listen to, and I think we all learned quite a bit. Here's a quick list of what Mr. Asher told us were the seven secrets:

1. The Hidden Job Market is Big

2. It's easier to navigate than the Open Job Market

3. You have to start with a target

4. You get jobs by talking to people

5. Ditch your resume (not entirely though, so don't just delete it!)

6. Don't ask for a job

7. The Hidden Job Market often leads to a posted opening

A lot of these tips seemed basic, but he stressed just how important it is to make all the connections that you can. Referrals are golden after all. If you can get your goals out to as many people as possible, you'll have a much better chance of tapping into this specific job market.

We'll hopefully have the whole presentation on our website soon. If you're interested in viewing it, let us know and we'll be glad to give you the opportunity.

Now get to work on finding those hidden jobs!

Faith

In last week's Trends in Workforce Recruiting presentation, Dr. Phil Gardner stated that one of the "Parables of Talent" he teaches his students is to be "motivated by faith rather than fear". It's not easy to have faith that you will find a job when every time you turn on the TV all you hear is more bad news. Entering the "real world" was a very scary thought for me four years ago and I'm sure it is even scarier for many of you now.

Despite constant encouragement from family and friends, having faith that there is a job out there for me is the only thing keeping me motivated to work hard to find it. Whether it is religious faith or faith in yourself, it is one thing that no one can take away from you. The job search can be a long and frustrating process but a positive attitude and strong faith that you will make it will help keep you from getting dragged down with fear.

A Sign of the Times

Jeff Stahler of the Columbus Dispatch published this cartoon a couple weeks ago which we think illustrates pretty well what everyone is going through right now.

While times are rough, it is important to keep a positive outlook. President Obama's stimulus package should help some, and companies are still making hires. Make sure you read Laura's post from a few weeks ago to be fully up to date on marketing your skills in today's economy. You can still get a job if you put the work into it!

Staying STRONG in a weak economy Part I

Last night the CSC (that's us!), along with the Young Alumni Association, hosted an event focused on staying STRONG in a weak economy. We thought there would be about 30 people there... over 90 showed up. I talked about the economy (mostly bad!) and who is successful at finding jobs (lots of people- this is good!). The real treat was hearing from some local experts. I want to share a few insights they had for the crowd that might be helpful to you too!

From Spano Pratt...http://spanopratt.com/

1. Change your mentality! Quit reading negative statistics. Use positive talk with EVERYONE in your life. How are you presenting your personal brand?
   
   “I’m about to get laid off. Do you know of any opportunities?”
   VS.
   “I’ve been in the event planning field for several years and am excited to start a new direction. I’m interested in gaining more experience and transitioning to the field of Marketing. Do you know of any opportunities that seem to fit with my goal?”
   
   Focus on what you CAN control and not on what you can’t control.
   “You can’t always direct the wind, you can, however, learn to adjust your sails.
   
   
2. Understand the solution you bring to your current organization. What are the implications of the work that you do. STOP DOWNPLAYING! The more you think you are an asset, the more you will talk like you are an asset and the more you will come across as an asset.
   “Fake it until you make it”
   
   
3. Make sure your resume is UP TO DATE. Keep a folder with every single little and big project you do and every quarter update your resume with associations, projects, new roles, etc.
   
   
4. Develop your skills!!! Listen to those performance reviews - it’s hard to critique ourselves to get feedback from others.
   a. Join Professional Associations
   b. Look for opportunities and events in the community with people you wouldn’t normally connect with
   c. Join a board - volunteer first and get more involved. “Pay or Play” - either they will look for a contribution or you will need to do some recruiting.
   d. Keep a spreadsheet of your network so you remember where you met people - the last time you spoke, etc.