With the rise of large job search engines like Indeed and LinkedIn, it can seem like they have monopolized job hunting online. However, the truth is that while sites like Indeed and LinkedIn are extremely useful, there are still many other places where you can find great job opportunities that won’t show up on those mainstream job boards.
Leverage Your Network
One of the best ways to find jobs not posted on the big sites is to leverage your personal and professional network. Many positions, especially at small to mid-sized companies, are filled via internal referrals before they are ever posted online. Reach out to friends, family members, former colleagues, mentors, college alumni, and professional contacts to let them know you are job hunting. Ask if they know of any openings that would be a good fit for you. With some luck, your contacts may be able to directly refer you to hiring managers for “hidden” job opportunities.
In addition to tapping your existing network, look for opportunities to expand your professional network through industry events, conferences, trade organizations, and alumni groups. The broader your network, the more potential insider job openings you can gain access to.
Check Company Career Pages
Another place to find unadvertised jobs is by visiting the careers page on company websites. Many employers prefer to post openings on their own site before listing them elsewhere. Browse the sites of companies you are interested in to look for jobs posted on their actual career portal. This is especially effective for finding openings at smaller companies that don’t rely primarily on big aggregator sites to source candidates.
Here are some tips for success with this strategy:
- Make a list of companies you’d like to work for and visit their careers page regularly.
- Check both the main careers portal and also individual business unit/team pages.
- Set up job alerts on company sites to be notified of new openings.
- Pay attention to “employee referral” openings which may not be posted publicly.
Leverage Social Media
Social media sites like Twitter and LinkedIn can also be great sources of unposted jobs if used strategically. Follow and interact with people at your target companies. Many hiring managers will post openings on their personal accounts before advertising them more broadly. You can also join industry-specific networking and chat groups where job openings are often shared. The key is to be an active participant in relevant social conversations so you are top of mind when opportunities arise.
Attend Industry Events
Attend in-person job fairs, conferences, networking events, trade shows, and professional association meetings in your industry. These events allow you to connect directly with key players at potential employers, learn about job openings, and get your resume into the right hands. While you may still need to apply online later, making a personal connection gives you a leg up.
Some tips for maximizing industry events:
- Research attendees and participating companies ahead of time to identify your key targets.
- Bring plenty of updated resumes and business cards to distribute.
- Follow up promptly with new contacts after the event while you are still fresh in their mind.
Sign up for Job Alerts
While Indeed and LinkedIn are great places to set up job alerts, you can also get email notifications sent from niche job boards, professional associations, community listservs, and employer sites. Here are some good places to set alerts:
- Industry-specific job boards – Dice.com (tech), Idealist.org (nonprofit), etc.
- University career centers and alumni job boards
- Professional associations – IEEE, American Marketing Association, etc.
- Meetup.com groups related to your field
- Your local chamber of commerce job board
- Individual company websites, as mentioned above
Setting up alerts takes just a few minutes but allows you to stay on top of opportunities that are a fit for you as soon as they are posted.
Work with Recruiters
Connecting with specialized recruiters in your industry is another excellent way to tap into the “hidden job market.” Recruiters are constantly sourcing candidates for openings that are not posted publicly. Getting on a recruiter’s radar screen means you may hear about exclusive roles.
Ways to connect with recruiters:
- Find recruiters on LinkedIn who work in your field and connect with them
- Introduce yourself to recruiters at industry events and conferences
- Proactively contact recruiting firms that specialize in your niche
- Opt into recruiter job alerts through sites like FlexJobs and Remote.co
When reaching out, make sure to communicate your background and skills clearly. Help recruiters understand what types of roles are an ideal match for you.
Check Community Job Boards
Your local community likely has both online and offline job boards that feature openings you won’t find on the mega sites. Check listings through:
- Local newspaper classifieds
- Community center and library employment boards
- Listservs for community organizations
- Regional internet job boards
- Community college job boards
- City and county government job boards
Small, local employers are more likely to post on these hyper-local channels than on national platforms. If mobility isn’t an issue, focusing your search closer to home can yield hidden gems.
Search Google for Jobs
Believe it or not, searching for phrases like “jobs near me” or “jobs in __ industry” on Google can sometimes surface openings not posted anywhere else. Google’s massive web crawler picks up job listings from all corners of the internet, including tiny niche job boards and employer sites. You never know what gems might pop up in the first few pages of Google results.
Conclusion
Finding great job opportunities takes effort beyond just Indeed and LinkedIn. Leverage your personal connections, tap into niche resources, and think locally to access “hidden” openings. While you should certainly still utilize mainstream sites as part of your search, casting a wider net significantly increases your chances of landing the perfect role.