The Rise of the Hidden Job Market – Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA) presentation

On the 10th April 2015 I presented on the topic of “The Rise of the Hidden Job Market” at the Career Development Association of Australia annual conference in Perth, Western Australia.

Pictures:

Crowd sourcing activity:

The last section of the presentation included a crowd sourcing activity with conference attendees. Small groups of 5-8 people were formed and the topic was brainstormed for 15 minutes. Here are the notes from each group who engaged in the activity.

Question: How can we help job seekers to access opportunities in the hidden job market?

Group 1

Help them identify their networks and prompt them about the depth of their network
Use LinkedIn access to build an excellent profile, follow organisations, post updates and interact
The hidden job market has always been there, it’s just the media that’s different
Getting in touch with decision makers
Understand all the elements of managing their reputation
Build confidence and self esteem
How to deal with rejection and follow up
Seek a mentor
Attend conferences
Measured follow up with people in their pipeline
Empty out your address book and help other to gain roles.
Seek out opportunities for job shadowing and internships.
Useful sites:

About.me (personal webpage app).

Group 2

Education on what the hidden job market is and the implications for job search
The iceberg image
Social media presence
Strategies for expanding your network
Training on networking skills, etiquette and communication skills and follow up
Value proposition – what can I bring to the market? Awareness of your skills
Have a strategy approach

Group 3

Getting students out in the community
Canvassing employers in the area
Using family networks e.g. work experience
Putting the word out that you are seeking a job
Lack of networks can be a roadblock, particularly for international immigrants
Do your research – preparing job seekers for job search using LinkedIn and other social networking sites
Links and tools
Profiling – my career match tool
Includes mature age – all ages in job transitioning
Community groups
Online groups
A local may advertise
Alumni groups

Group 4

Tell more stories
Listen to more stories about how people find jobs

Group 5

Help clients understand the figures of the hidden job market and how they should allocate their time
Identify networks, sources and companies online
Identify companies and strategies to approach them
Help clients create a plan to network
Help students obtain work experience through their networks
Program called “Pathways” can be used to build a database
Job shadowing opportunities
Build relationships and networks
Using referrals from someone you trust
Encouraging clients to get comfortable building networks and leveraging types of networks: colleagues, friends, sports networks, church
Sending resumes out to people you know and ask about job opportunities and ask for referrals
Sharing stories of successes from networking
Ask potential employers for advice, not a job
Using LinkedIn for networking, researching potential employers, potential career pathways
Managing your personal brand online
Meet up groups with similar interest areas
Use address book
Join the Chamber of Commerce
Accessing alumnus
Community groups and cultural groups
Industry and professional organisations and being active
Inviting people for coffee catch ups
Informational interviews
Doing your research

Group 6

Network map – yours and others
Working the network
Identifying various parts of the network: Fellow graduates. Colleagues past and present. Friends. Professional associations
Direct approach and referrals
LinkedIn to build profile and research companies
Manage your reputation and social profile
Work experience and job shadowing
Look at others stories
Nurturing, growing and networking

Here is a PDF version of the collated notes from the crowd source activity.

The Rise of the Hidden Job Market – CDAA National Conference 2015 – Notes from crowdsource activity