The Hidden Job Market refers to the tendency of employers to resort to every method of filling vacancies before they will post a job in wanted ads or a job board. For a lot of employers, want ads and job boards act as a last resort which are only used when the other methods have failed. 

Who could guess that in Canada, only about 20% of the jobs that are available find their way to the internet, or any other form of advertising for that matter. This seems strange considering the vast amount of jobs advertised online, especially when we consider that the first place job-hunters search for jobs is online. The mystique of this statistic is removed when we consider that if employers are successful filling the vacancies without having to advertise, then why would they?

So if you are discouraged by your current job hunting efforts, don't be. Chances are a company that you want to work for is hiring, but they either haven't advertised the position yet, or are waiting for you to find them. Think of any companies you would like to work for, and ask to speak to the Human Resources Manager, or another manager in charge of hiring. Ask if there are any positions that they are hiring for which may not be advertised. At the very least it will trigger a short discussion about who you are and what you are looking for. This will put you on their radar and may serve to open many doors for you. So don't hesitate to take the initiative!

Look for more posts from Academicinvest.com regarding the Hidden Job Market!

Source: Okanagan College, "The Hidden Job Market." http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/administration/students/coop/Resources___Links/Job_Hunting_Tips/The_Hidden_Job_Market.html