5 Ways To Find The Hidden Job Market Through Networking

Looking for a new job can feel overwhelming and frustrating.? With an abundance of online job boards and websites, you can easily spend your days applying to positions and getting nowhere fast.? While it may feel “easier” to hide behind your keyboard, most opportunities can be found through the hidden job market.

In Robin Ryan’s article How To Tap Into The Hidden Job Market , unadvertised jobs can be found by reaching hiring managers early in the process before the job is posted or engaging with that employer as soon as the position is online.

The hidden job market is like an iceberg.? “On the surface, you see only the iceberg’s top. Equate that to the job market, and you only see a small portion of the jobs advertised. The massive amount of ice under the water is the entire word of mouth process companies and hiring managers go through to fill an opening.”

Reach the bottom of the iceberg through networking

Building and nurturing authentic relationships in your network is the way to find those hidden job opportunities.? I enjoy networking and think that it’s fun to connect with people you like and want to get to know better.?

Here are five ways to reach the bottom of the iceberg of hidden job opportunities through networking:

• Create a list of 20-25 targeted companies. ?As mentioned in Ryan’s article, put together a list of at least 20-25 companies that you want to work at.? Then search your connections on LinkedIn and other social media networks to find people at those organizations to schedule informational interviews or “coffee chats”.? Sending cold messages to people you’re not connected with also works.? When I researched coach training programs, I sent direct messages to a few people I didn’t know on LinkedIn and was surprised how many of those people were willing to spend a half hour to talk to me.
• Maximize your “coffee chats”:? Before each scheduled “coffee chat”, prepare a short list of questions in advance to make the most of your time together.? I usually ask if they mind sharing more about their career journey, their role and/or company culture and if they might be able to connect me with someone else in their network as a next step.
• Tap into your college alumni directory and alumni affinity groups. People are almost always willing to help someone they do not know if they attended the same university. I went to Binghamton University and highly recommend joining The Binghamton Marketing Collective (TBMC) if you are also a Binghamton University alumni in marketing.
• Join networking groups.? This is another great way to meet people with something in common.? Join and take advantage of networking groups by attending in-person and/or virtual meetings and events, becoming involved in forums, and staying active in online discussions.? One group I recommend for marketers who want to network and learn from each other is Serial Marketers led by David Berkowitz .
• Partner with an executive coach.? The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.? Working with an executive coach will guide you to uncover your own insights, action plan and accountability around finding those hidden job opportunities that lead to a career you love.?

Marni's Favorite Marketing Jobs

Please check my LinkedIn profile activity daily for all of the job listings I share on an ongoing basis.

ANA Educational Foundation, Manager, Digital Content & Education - amazing opportunity to work with Marcia L. Soling !

OverDrive, Senior Marketing Manager - Emerging Brands - Thank you Jennifer Leitman, MBA for sharing!!

Health Monitor Network, Sales Director - amazing opportunity to work with Donna Barker !

YETI, Senior Brand Strategy Manager

Hasbro, Director Global Internal Communications

Audacy, Director, Podcast Partnership & Sales Enablement - Thank you Ken Lagana for sharing!!

The New York Mets, Social Media Content Creator, Marketing

TikTok, Head of US Agency

Lyft, Chief of Staff, Marketing

L'Oreal, Manager, Media - Maybelline.Garnier.Essie

About this Newsletter

As mentioned in Forbes , “A midlife crisis is defined as a period of emotional turmoil in middle age, around 40 to 60 years old, characterized by a strong desire for change.”? However, marketers begin their midlife crisis much earlier.??

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the average age of a US marketing/advertising manager is 39.0, compared to 46.7 for all managerial roles.?

While the marketing industry has responded to issues of gender, race, and sexual harassment, there continues to be no movement against ageism.? This issue has been swept under the rug, but it is very real.

When I was laid off from my job in advertising in my 30s, it was a dark and scary time.? I had no idea what was next for me and needed to figure out a way to reinvent myself.? I remember all of the people in my network who went out of their way to help me and those who let my emails go into “cyberspace”.? That experience made me realize how important it is to “pay it forward” to help other “midlife marketers” figure out what’s next in their career journey.? Life is too short to stay in a job that doesn’t align with your core values and connect to something greater than yourself.

This bi-weekly newsletter for “midlife marketers” (from new managers to senior leaders) has easy-to-read tips and actionable advice on ways to design your own career path, take your career to the next level and how to master the art of networking.? This newsletter will leverage my insights to help you navigate your career journey. Each issue will also include a curated list of job opportunities shared from my network of 5,500+ marketers.

• Find your ideal career:? Discover ways to find your dream career that aligns with your values, strengths and passions.? Learn how to manage career transitions and leverage your transferable skills to design the life you want.
• The art of networking:? Learn how to build and maintain authentic relationships over time to find hidden job opportunities.
• Hot career topics:? including designing a portfolio career, setting boundaries, dealing with ageism, imposter syndrome, self-care during transition, and more!
• Curated list of my favorite marketing job opportunities

About Marni Gordon

Marni is passionate about paying it forward to help marketers who want to thrive in a career they love. Marni is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and a Certified Career and Executive Coach from New York University (NYU) with 25+ years of corporate marketing leadership experience. Marni has an extensive background creating community, networking, training individuals and groups, developing individuals in a variety of high-performance roles, and facilitating discussions to help clients uncover their own insights, action plans and accountability. Marni is a super connector and will help you become one too.