Behind the numerous job adverts published on job boards lies a well-hidden market offering plenty of career opportunities. Your future job could well lie in this hidden market, which is less competitive than online job adverts. So how do you access it? Read on to find out.

The hidden job market, a candidate’s Eldorado?

We don’t talk about it much, yet one in three hirings take place on the hidden market, according to a recent study. This so-called invisible market includes all job offers that are not officially published on recruitment sites such as Indeed. These vacancies are discovered through word of mouth, professional and personal networks, meetings at after-work events, an unsolicited application or even after a work-study placement in a company.

For organisations, this recruitment method is often a way of saving time, ensuring success and boosting performance. The recruitment process is faster and co-optation (when an employee recommends someone) is a guarantee, as the employee makes a commitment on behalf of the person he or she is referring. Similarly, recruiting someone following their internship or work-study period in the company offers the manager security: he or she knows how the person works and is familiar with their personality.

The hidden job market also offers many advantages for candidates. There is much less competition, which increases your chances of getting the job. Moreover, the fact that no recruitment procedure is launched means that you can take the time to talk in depth with the employees, the manager or the director and find out more about the company’s challenges, ambitions and culture.

That said, how do you go about accessing this invisible market?

Developing and nurturing your network is essential if you want to increase your options

One of the most effective ways of accessing the hidden market is to develop and use your network. In general, our first instinct is to turn to our professional network by contacting former work colleagues and counterparts, and adding new LinkedIn contacts. But be careful how you approach them. Accessing the hidden market requires a continuous effort to nurture your network by sharing information, posting regularly and occasionally maintaining a dialogue.

Our recruitment experts believe there are two reasons why you should avoid approaching someone you haven’t spoken to for a long time to ‘ask for a job’ out of the blue. The first reason is that it places too much responsibility on the shoulders of the other person and the second is that nobody likes to say ‘no’, it’s not a pleasant position to be put in. So it’s best to broach the subject gradually and tactfully by asking, for example, about future recruitment needs.

Don’t underestimate the power of your personal network either. Your family and friends may also have connections and contacts that could be of interest to you. So don’t forget to tell friends and family about your job search.

Identify the companies that appeal to you and stay up to date with their news

To navigate the hidden job market and learn of vacancies that suit you, you need direction. In other words, you need to have a career plan, a clear idea of the job you are looking for and the companies you would like to work for. If you haven’t already done so, take the time to select a maximum of 10 companies that you would like to join, specifying the reasons why: values, product, business sector, CSR policy, corporate culture and working conditions, etc.

Once you’ve done that, all you have to do is keep up with their news (fundraising, new product, employee departures). To do this, follow the company’s page on social networks (LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) and connect with the company’s managers, directors and employees so you are alerted to any new job postings. With the development of employee advocacy more and more employees are becoming ambassadors for their organisation and sharing their day-to-day experiences. You can also visit the company’s career site if it has one. You’ll find some interesting resources and information there about the internal HR policy.

This ‘monitoring’ exercise is an excellent way of deciding when the time is right to submit your unsolicited application. For example, if a start-up has just raised funds, there’s a good chance that it will be recruiting new talent in the next few months.

Work on your personal branding and your presence on social networks

Personal branding is a technique for developing your personal image so that you stand out from the crowd and other experts. People who talk about themselves create a bond with readers - and therefore with potential recruiters, team leaders and employers. Like Apple aficionados, these people are not (just) chosen for their skills. They are chosen for their personality, their identity.

To work on your personal branding and become a company favourite, you need to work on both content and form. In terms of content, identify the technical topics related to your profession on which you will be speaking to establish your expertise. You should also talk about subjects that touch on your values, your convictions and your ambitions, so that readers can identify with your stories and contact you. In terms of form, remember that you are the brand. Your contacts should be able to recognise you at a glance. With this in mind, find a distinctive element that suits you: a slogan, humour, a colour, etc.

The choice of platform on which you speak obviously depends on your target contacts. For example, if you are a financial analyst, it is very likely that other experts and companies are present on LinkedIn. Sharing content on this network and commenting on your contacts’ posts will help you attract attention and get noticed by your peers.

The hidden job market also exists within your company!

What if your future job was in the company you already work for? Often overlooked by existing candidates, internal mobility is an interesting way of finding a new job and is highly valued by companies - particularly large groups. Why?

Internal recruitment saves time. The candidate is familiar with the company’s practices and customs. The company also knows the person's strengths, which makes it a safe hiring. You don’t have to customise your CV or use your network. So if you want to change jobs, it’s worth checking out the internal vacancies and upcoming opportunities! At the same time, tell your manager about your plans during your annual appraisal interview and contact the HR department to find out more about the internal mobility policy (training, jobs, support, etc.).

Why not use a recruitment agency?

Companies use recruitment agencies to handle their recruitment needs. Over time, consultants build up a pool of contacts and are aware of the current and future recruitment needs of their client companies. If your profile is a match for a client’s search, the consultant can present and defend your application even before the job advert is published online. Think about using a recruitment agency to maximise your chances!

To sum up, you can access the hidden job market by following these tips and practices:

• Develop and nurture your network,
• Keep up to date with the companies that interest you,
• Work on your personal branding and your presence on social networks,
• Find out about internal mobility opportunities,
• Use a recruitment agency.