If youҲe frustrated with your job search, or feel that positions at your level are few and far between, thereҳ likely a good reason: at least 70 percent of jobs are never posted on hiring boards. According to Business Insider, the best way to secure one of these Өidden jobsԠis by knowing someone at the company. ӛG]etting a referral for a job opening from someone who's already working with the company could give you pretty impressive odds. Only 7% of job applicants get this kind of referral, yet referrals make us 40% of new hires,Ԡwrites Gina Belli. In fact, tapping this so-called Өidden job marketԠcan give you a big leg up over the competition. Ӕhere are actually fewer opportunities and more competition in the public job market because everybody can see these jobs. That's why they are harder to get. There are more opportunities and less competition in the hidden job market, because most people don't try to pursue it,Ԡsaid Pete Leibman, Executive Recruiter and Career Advisor. Ready to dig into the hidden job market? Here are Peteҳ top tips for securing positions that are never advertised.>Why Are So Many Jobs Hidden? One of the reasons some jobs are not posted is confidentiality, especially at the executive level. Many top positions canҴ be advertised because they are still filled by individuals who are not performing well or donҴ fit into the company culture. Whatҳ more, many companies donҴ want to slog through applications from unqualified candidates. These posts also only attract individuals who are job searching at the time of posting, too. ӗhen you post a position online, you're only attracting people who are actively seeking a new role, and that's a small segment of the talent pool,ԠPete explained. Passive candidates, or those who could be convinced to leave their current roles, are completely ignored in open job postings. Ӆvery job employer is always hiring. So, don't look for jobs. Look for people,Ԡsaid Pete.>Hidden Job Finder Formula The best way, then, to find executive-level posts at your ideal company is to tap into this unadvertised job market. The first step is identifying what your dream role actually is. If you start by updating your application materials - typical first steps - then you wonҴ tailor those documents to the role you want. Pete suggests asking yourself the following questions:>Whatҳ your ideal job function?What are the job titles that you want to pursue?What industry do you want to work in?What region do you want to work in?What types of companies you'll want to work for in terms of company size and sage and business situation? Answering these questions should leave you with a target market of 20 to 30 companies where your next role could exist or be created for you. Now that you have your companies and ideal role pinpointed, identify what makes you different from others who are similar to you in your field. Ӕhink how much more compelling your resume and LinkedIn will be now that you built it with a specific set of target companies in mind, rather than creating it without thinking through what your actual goal is. I mean, you can't design a marketing plan if you don't know who your target audience is,ԠPete said.>Read Also: Not Every CEO is Cut Out for Startups, Hereҳ WhyConnecting with Your Network The third step in the process is identifying your network, those individuals who can vouch for you or clue you in to hidden job openings. Pete suggests identifying at least 50 game changers, those individuals who have Ӵhe power to hire you, or the ability to influence people with the power to hire you.Ԋ You donҴ have to know the names or job titles of the game changes with whom you want to connect at the start. Instead, you can࠴hink about categories of people who can help you on your journey. For instance, if your potential boss might be the Chief Marketing Officer, then note all the Chief Marketing Officers, or individuals who hold similar positions, at the companies that interest you, as they will likely be involved in hiring decisions. DonҴ stop here, however. Instead, consider this personҳ connections. ӗho are the other key executives and potential board members at your target companies who might be aware of or involved in the hiring process?ԠPete said. You also want to add business leaders in professional associations and online communities to your list. ӆrom personal experience as an executive recruiter, I can tell you, companies often go to leaders of associations and other industry leaders to ask them for ideas on potential candidates for a key role,ԠPete said. When you reach out to your game changers, the last thing you want to do is send them a resume right away. Rather, you want to build mutual respect and add value for them, if possible. Ӕhe idea is trying to be thoughtful about identifying the right people and also being thoughtful with how best to actually connect with them,ԠPete explained.>Cracking the Hidden Job Market With such a significant percentage of jobs never posted on online platforms, it becomes imperative for you to build connections in your field. If you have developed a robust network, youҬl be the first person your contacts think of when theyҲe hiring for a position they donҴ plan to advertise.