This Is How You Get a Job That’s Not Posted. Spoiler: It’s Easier Than You Think

*originally posted on www.themogulmillennial.com*

I recently spoke with a friend that was angry about her low pay and was tired of not getting promoted. Because of this, she began to put in application after application, and even updated her LinkedIn profile, but still, could not find a job. She then decided to stay at her current company and applied for internal positions, and still came out unlucky. Soon after, she told me her company announced that one of her colleagues was getting a promotion – but catch this – the job was never posted or announced that it would be available.

You can only imagine how pissed off and confused she was.

When she called me ranting and complaining, I simply told her, “You are not getting the job you want or a promotion because no one cares enough about who you are and what you are about.”

Ouch. (yeah I know that was probably a little too blunt, but sometimes you have to show your friends tough love)

As I told my friend, “It’s your relationships and reputation that will get you in the door.” As bomb as your credentials are, sometimes that MBA or degree isn’t good enough – especially when you are competing with hundreds of other applicants or internal employees that have similar credentials too.

Often, the best jobs are never posted and sometimes they are created out of pure employee and consumer inspiration. Other times, when a job is posted, it’s only posted for commonality reasons, and the hiring manager already has their eye on a lucky person.

So how do you become that lucky person and get to be considered for jobs that are not even on the market (aka in the hidden job market)?

Here’s how:

You have to have a strategy

By being intentional and having a persistent attitude, the hidden job market can be right at your fingertips. You need to focus on building and communicating your personal brand and establishing solid relationships with the right people. You need to take a little time out and figure out who the decision makers are in your desired field and build a relationship with them.

Don’t downplay or hush your accomplishments

Never be afraid to publicly announce when you do something awesome. If you’ve found a better way to solve an issue at work or streamline a process, don’t just do it and say nothing about your genius capability. Tell your boss. Never let your good work go unnoticed.

Never be afraid to slide in a few DMs or emails

Once you discover who the right people are that you should connect and build a relationship with, you will need to get the convo started. Start by sending a simple email to them like the one below – (quick secret: I’ve sent a similar one to a colleague and it worked!)

Hello,

My name is ____ and I am currently the ____ at ___ company. In the near future, I would like to work in your department or work as a _____. I know that you have experience in this area so I would love to chat with you over the phone or over lunch about your career journey and maybe see how I can assist with your team ____.” 

Thank you,

Remember that a close mouth will never be fed

Don’t be afraid to say what you want and what your future plans are. When you are in your one-on-one with your boss or have the opportunity to talk to someone in a position that you desire, tell them about your own dreams and professional goals. You never know; they may be looking for someone like you on their team.

Never stop being dope and putting your best foot forward

Once you establish solid relationships and have communicated what you want, continue to push out amazing work and it will make you even more marketable and appealing to the hidden job market. No matter what, consistent, awesome work will always aid in your success.

Personally, each of the aforementioned areas has helped me get unannounced opportunities. Also, it has helped me become a more confident and connected professional.

?If you have ever received a job or opportunity that wasn’t posted, share your strategy with us below!