'Hidden' job market all about who you know

By DAVID STITES • DSTITES@CAMW.NET • AUGUST 9, 2010 • FROM LANSING STATE JOURNAL

A recent Michigan State University graduate, she was looking for full-time employment. Through her internship and other involvement in the community, she built up a network of connections.

One thing led to another and she wound up with a fantastic job in Biggby Coffee's home office in East Lansing working business development. The job was never posted.

According to CNN Money, more than 80 percent of jobs that are available are not advertised. That means you won't find them on Monster.com or in the classifieds section of the newspaper. Through word-of-mouth and personal and professional connections, these job opportunities are quietly filled.

In this job market, many businesses are able to find someone within the employer's networks, which makes knowing employees of these organizations invaluable. Often, these positions may be filled internally or by someone who was referred.

You want to be that referral, much like VanderMeulen.

Networking and developing connections are the best ways for job seekers to learn about unadvertised jobs and get hired. Meet people, following up with them and maintaining relationships is integral to networking success.

If establishing a personal connection with a company isn't possible for you, there are other ways to get a foot in the door.

Job seekers can learn more about the organizations they're interested in working for through social media tools. Become a fan of the company or organization on Facebook, follow the employees on Twitter and actively listen and engage.

Even if you are employed and content in your current position and company, get yourself out there. You never know when you'll be ready to take that next step.

I encourage people to stay in tune with what's going on in their industry and stay connected with folks with similar interests. The larger your professional network, the better.

Check Capital Area Michigan Works' calendar for a list of networking events and meetings at camw.org/calendar. You can also rely on your college's alumni association for some assistance and direction. Besides the association having connections with hiring businesses, they can help identify opportunities to expand your professional network.

Ultimately, the hidden job market boils down to relationships. Start building them before you need them.