Accessing the Hidden Job Market in 2015

Accessing the Hidden Job Market in 2015Companies are getting smarter about the means they use to find the most-qualified candidates. Theyre starting to realize they dont have to utilize the pricey job boards nowadays, they can use employee referral programs, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and myriad other methods that cost them very little yet provide huge gains when it comes to human capital.How does this shift in the way employers are searching affect your job search in 2015? It means employers are moving away from the exclusive use of job boardsand so should you. I receive calls from job seekers every weekpeople who are extremely frustrated and on the brink of flaute because of the seeming black hole their resumes fall into on job boards. They lament, Ive applied to 100 jobs in the past two weeks and havent heard one word. This is when I jump on my job board soapbox and provide some free job search education.Frankly, I cant stand the thought that there are job seekers out there who are feeling hopeless or helplessoverwhelmed, frustrated, and on the verge of depression. You need to know there are employers out there looking for someone with your talent and expertise. You just have to find themand job boards are only 20% of the answer.Your time is valuable and shouldnt be spent exclusively on job boards.In fact, only about 20% of your job search time should be spent utilizing them. So, if you commit 10 hours a week to searching, then use only two of those hours finding and applying to positions on job boards. Dedicate the remainder of your time to networking and hidden job market strategies. Not sure what those are? Below youll find a list of several strategies you can use in 2015 to access the hidden job market.Informational Interviews Heres a great article that discusses what an informational interview is and how to use one to find a new job. http//www.greatresumesfast.com/blog/2014/09/09/informational-interviews/Direct Mail Campaigns This great article uses a real-life example to show how a direct mail campaign carries a significant advantage when job searchingit can cause you to be the ONLY partie applying for the job. http//www.greatresumesfast.com/blog/2014/09/04/hidden-job-market-only-person-applying-for-job/.Cold Calling Employers This can be a technique that eliminates job search stress and your competition. Find out more in this article http//www.greatresumesfast.com/blog/2014/09/11/job-search-technique-cold-calling/Value Proposition Letters can be an extremely effective way for executives and mid-career professionals to reach out to decision makers and C-level executives. You can read more about value proposition letters, this method, and its successes here http//www.greatresumesfast.com/executive-value-proposition-letter.htmlLets not forget about using LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Video Resumes, Professional Web sites or Blogs, and Networking all as effective strategies to find a job in 2015.Speaking of networking, we should connect on LinkedIn. Feel free to send me an invitation here.