University Career Services

Dream it

Plan it

Do it

The Hidden Job Market o Hire from within (already know worker) o Through networks, someone a colleague recommends o Meet someone by accident o Employment agency To fill a vacancy, employers work this way…

o Place an ad o Read CVs

... but Jobseekers tend to go this way

The Hidden Job Market In fact, job-seekers may never get to the top two-thirds of the pyramid, so all the jobs up here remain hidden. o Employment agency o Place an ad o Read CVs

THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET (75 – 80 % of work found here)

• Employers start by looking for employees in their own networks, that is people they already know of or who are referred to them through their network of contacts • You need to access the employer networks to increase your chances of getting work in the hidden job market

STRATEGIES FOR ACCESSING THE ‘HIDDEN’ JOB MARKET In Job Search, it’s not just ‘what you know’, it’s

‘who

you know’

that makes the difference

1. Networking • Tap into your networks by asking classmates, employers, lecturers, colleagues, clubs, friends or other contacts (e.g. Facebook or Twitter) who might give you leads into employer networks. • (see Career Resource sheet ‘Networking’ JS02)

2. Work Experience • Volunteer work, part time work and work experience related to your study are all methods of making yourself known to desirable employers. • (see Career Resource: ‘Part Time and Volunteer Work JS05’)

3. Contacting Employers Directly • It is a good idea to find organisations that you can approach directly. • Contacting employers directly can be hard to do at first, but with practise you will feel more confident. • For information to help, read the Career Resources sheets: ‘Informational Interviewing CP03’ and ‘Networking JS02’

4. Employment Agencies There are many web-based recruitment companies, where you can directly search for jobs, post your CV, and apply for jobs on-line, e.g: • • • •

www.sjs.co.nz www.seek.co.nz www.trademe.co.nz/jobs careerhub.aut.ac.nz (vacancies, co-op placements, internships, courserelated jobs for AUT students and graduates) • www.careers.govt.nz/job_search_jobs.html (links to recruitment agency and job listing sites by industry)

Employment or recruitment agencies can be a useful tool. Remember that they act as an agent and are not the potential employer.

5. Newspaper and Internet Advertisements Be organised and read the ads daily for your target industry: www.nzherald.co.nz/employment + local papers, community papers • Advertised positions may receive 50—200+ applications, so a skilled approach is necessary. Carefully target your CV and cover letter to the requirements stated in the advertisement • Match what you have to offer with what the position requires • Consider what the employer might need to know about you for that position • Research more about the role and organisation – ask for a job description • Follow up with a phone call if you don’t hear back within a week

JOB SEARCH SKILLS • • • • •

There is no one best method for finding jobs. It is effective to use a range of strategies. Target your search to suitable jobs and employers. Do not rely on advertised positions alone Diversify your job search methods to increase your success

How to Allocate Your Job Search Time

How to succeed at Co-op Search • You need to be clear about your purpose when meeting with employers and staff in their firms: - are you seeking a job or are you networking? • You need to be clear about Co-op itself – what it entails (dates etc) and what impact it might have on your potential workplace

How to succeed at Co-op Search • You need to be able to clearly express what your strengths are and to explain how having you around will make their job easier: i.e. what’s in it for them? • Before you meet with a potential employer/co-op workplace, find out who they are and what they do. Work out in advance the ways you could fit in, and the work, tasks or projects you could contribute