Many of us know that only a fraction of available jobs are actually ever advertised on job boards or through the recruitment agencies. In fact, research shows that only around 30% of jobs are found this way, so you could be missing out on potential job opportunities if this is your sole focus. But how do you tap into the “hidden” job market, the remaining 70% of jobs?
The best way to do this is through arranging informational interviews. These are short, focused conversations with other people working in your field of interest. They are never about directly asking for a job, but are about introducing yourself, stating your interests and collecting insider information that will help you advance your job search. Who you approach can make all the difference in hearing back. The more personalised the request for advice the more chance you have of getting a yes to meet up or have an online chat!
Step 1 – Talk to People
Firstly, you need to talk to lots and lots of people! Particularly people outside of your existing network of friends, family and colleagues. Employers hire people they know and trust. Networking with different relevant people helps you get known in your professional field. Candidates with a pre-existing relationship with the employer, even a weak relationship through a connection, are much more likely to have an inside edge. When employers hire, they reach out to their network for referred candidates. However, you only actually hear about these positions if you are talking to people in your field.
Step 2 – Information Gathering
To start with, make a list of companies you would love to work at and also of job titles or positions that you would be interested in. Then look at people who work for your ideal company and have your dream role. What is their background, what qualifications do they have and how did they get to the position they are in now? It helps to also look for people you have some sort of connection with, for example someone who went to your university or has a shared connection. If you have someone or something in common, then they will be more likely to want to meet with you. LinkedIn is the ideal platform to do this and it is also easier for people to respond to you.
Step 3 – Know why you are there
The purpose of an informational interview is not to ask for a job. You have asked for the meeting in order to learn about a profession or an organisation, introduce yourself, help with your own career, uncover any future opportunities and then also grow your network. When you first get the meeting, either online or face to face, ask the person about themselves. People love to talk about themselves! Try asking the following questions:
- How did you get your start in this field?
- What’s it like working at your company?
- What’s your opinion on [exciting development in the industry]?
Step 4 – Be clear about what you want
This is very important. You must state your goal otherwise it is very difficult for people to help you. If you sound like you are really just looking for a job, there’s a good chance this person will push you to their HR department or even the company’s career page. So be sure you make it clear that you really want to talk to this person to learn about his or her career history and their perspective on the job or industry.
Step 5 – Ask
After you meet and make a great impression is when you can mention the job hunt. The people you see expect you to ask for help. Two requests you should make:
- Have you heard of any current or upcoming opportunities that match my goals and skills?
- Can you recommend two other people that I could talk with about our field?
Step 7 – Email a thank you Note
This is so important and I cannot emphasize this enough. You need to do this within 24 hours of the meeting. It’s not just good manners, it also reinforces the positive impression you made and reminds people that you are out there. Thank them for their time, tell them how much you enjoyed meeting them and you appreciated them being so helpful. Remind them again that if there is ever anything you can do to assist them, then you would be very happy to help.
Step 8 – Stay in touch
Connect through LinkedIn. Also, check in occasionally with the people you have met. An easy way to do this is to send a quick email after you meet someone that they have recommended to you.
Step 9 – Tell people when you get a new job
Once you find a new job, then make sure you email or call everyone that you met. Send a final thank you note with the good news and your new contact information. The people who helped you will feel pride in your success. Also, you will find that every city is really like a small town, particularly among peers in your industry. You will keep running into the same people in your field again and again in the years ahead.
Finally, always remember to offer help back to anyone who asks you. Zig Ziglar, a famous author & motivational speaker once said, “You can get everything you want in life, if you will just help other people get what they want.” Reciprocation is very important and is also the right thing to do.
If you would benefit from some guidance in your job search then reach out to see how I can assist you.
