Where to find and apply for jobs you don’t see on job boards.
Do you ever feel frustrated when you don’t receive a response after submitting your resume? Here could be a big reason why: Companies that post jobs in a newspaper or with online job boards often report receiving hundreds if not thousands of resumes. It can be hard to stand out among thousands! Finding elusive “unadvertised” job postings could be key to avoiding the competition and landing your next career opportunity.
The best way to stand out from the competition.
There are many great job opportunities that aren’t posted on traditional online job boards. Here’s how you can find them:
Leverage your network.
As we’ve discussed here in the blog, networking is a key component of a successful job search (and career). After cultivating strong relationships, it’s time to utilize them. Invite contacts to lunch or coffee and tell them about your job aspirations, or for online connections, send a quick LinkedIn note asking how things are going for them, then share your own job search situation. Staying in touch with your network and sharing your current job search situation is a great way to learn about positions that aren’t posted on job boards.
Partner with a staffing firm.
We may be slightly biased, but the best way to gain access to jobs that aren’t posted publicly is by partnering with a staffing firm. Companies trust staffing firms like Helpmates to find them the very best and most qualified candidates for their job openings. We save them time by finding great professionals (like you!), which means they share exciting career opportunities with us, without ever posting them publicly. Plus, we’ll help you fine-tune things, like your cover letter and resume, to stand out and increase your chances of landing the job – a staffing firm can be a tremendous asset in your job search and career!
Read their blog and social media.
Sometimes jobs aren’t posted on sites like Monster or Careerbuilder, but there are ways to determine when companies are hiring. One area to keep an eye on is a corporate blog (like this one!). Some companies share news or even specific openings on their blog (as a bonus, reading corporate blogs can help you stay informed on company news – which can be a big help during interviews). Local trade journals and newspapers can also give tremendous insight. News of expansions or promotions (which often indicate another position that now needs an employee) can be indicators of new positions becoming available. If you read about an expansion or promotion in a trade journal, head to the company website to see if a job is posted there, or better yet – remember the first bullet and see if anyone in your network (this is especially easy when you’re well connected on LinkedIn) is part of the organization, or can introduce you to someone there.
Ready to find your (unadvertised) job search ally?
Here at Helpmates, we help professionals like you find exciting job opportunities every day. Search our available jobs or contact us to find out how we can help you reach your career goals.
