A Strategic Approach to Job Searching

A quick search about the unadvertised job market and you’ll soon come across the statistic that a whopping 60-80% of jobs aren’t ever advertised! Multiple sources (including Forbes and The Guardian) state that only 30-40% of jobs ever make it to the ad boards; so harnessing your network should form the bulk of your strategic job search.

However, after a bit of digging around, I found no clear evidence for this. I suspect the statistic about 60-80% of jobs being unposted used to be true, but may overstate the truth since the rise of the internet, and the resulting ease of posting openings online (this article dives deep into the topic at the Résumé Hacking site).

Furthermore, in certain systems (such as the UK public sector) there are regulations galore about how jobs should be advertised (internally at first for a minimum amount of time and then externally). So for some jobs, rules need to be followed for external advertising and as such, I suspect lots of positions are now promoted externally.

That said, a survey carried out by CareerBuilder showed that 72% of employers still look internally at first to fill new jobs, suggesting that there are a large number of opportunities that are yet to be advertised. Therefore, tapping into this resource can be hugely productive.

Identifying unadvertised opportunities carries a few advantages:

1. If you make a good impression early on, they may not seek out additional candidates as aggressively, which means less competition for you

2. You’re cheaper to hire for the employer (no recruitment fees or high advertising costs), making your application more attractive

3. By showing an interest early on, before the job description is full defined, you may be able to shape your role a bit more. You could find yourself in the desirable position of being able to shape your role a bit more, if the job description is yet to be fully defined

[For one of my postdoc positions, I identified an unadvertised opportunity early and this allowed me to shape the position.  I was told I could work on any project, provided it fit with the general research interests of the lab. This gave me lots of creative control in shaping my project over the next few years]

The flip side of these advantages is that you may have to be more persistent at getting your application noticed, particularly if there are no vacancies when you first enquire. And several attempts of approaching would-be employers speculatively, might be required before a job offer materialises.

To maximize your odds of finding a good position, you should search both the advertised and unadvertised job markets. 

Winning Strategies for Job Searching: 

(i) The Advertised Job Market (the open job market) 

Landing an interview is hard regardless of whether applying directly for a job or identifying one through networking.

First, ensure you meet ≥75% of the advertised criteria.

Then use the criteria in the advert to populate a tailor-made application for that specific position. Use highlighted key words/phrases from the advert in your CV, resume and/or cover letter, to help your application stand out in the crowd.

(ii) The Unadvertised Job Market (the hidden job market)

How do you identify unadvertised jobs? Well like most things in the career development process, a strategic approach works best:

1. Gather targets: Identify suitable institutions/companies/employers you’d like to work at by asking contacts, searching on LinkedIn, using directory listings (top 10 best…etc.), and reading industry-related news

2. Identify the right person(s) to contact at these potential employers and obtain their contact details. You might identify several different ways of contacting them (an email address, a LinkedIn profile, through a PA etc.). If you have multiple contact points, this can be helpful for an unresponsive recipient!

3. Reach out through email/messaging, using the following layout (but anticipate the need to contact some people several times before receiving a reply):

• Introduce yourself and mention a mutual contact/interest if possible
• Consider their goals, priorities, and fears. You may find this on their website, articles on other sites, or by learning about the industry and imagining yourself in their position. If you have access to someone in a similar company/program, consider interviewing them as their priorities likely share similarities with others in the industry
• Offer 3-5 bullet points outlining what you have to offer and how you can potentially make a difference to their company/research programme in a way that addresses their goals, priorities, or fears. Be explicit that you would like to work for them
• Thank them for their consideration of your application for any available opportunities

4. If invited to talk on the phone or face-to-face, prepare a personal ‘sales’ pitch focusing on what you bring. The pitch (or value proposition) should concisely summarise your background and point out how your experience supports the potential employer

Before the meeting you need to prepare well, in order to be:

• Armed with a series of questions that will enable you to understand how well and if you fit-in with that potential employer. Where possible try to get some of the key questions in early during the conversation, so you can make your value proposition relevant to the concerns/priorities expressed
• Crystal clear about what it is you bring and ideas for how you could add value
• Well informed about the lab/company
• Prepared for a professional level delivery of your pitch

5. Always follow-up after the meeting, thanking them for their time and succinctly summarising your value and how this aligns with the employer’s aims.

If the stars are aligned, you may get offered an exciting position

If not, it’s not wasted time. You’ve built an important connection that could turn out to be helpful in the future. So, keep the connection alive using your networking skills. 

In Summary 

• The most effective strategic approach to searching for jobs, explores both the open and hidden job markets
•  For the open job market ensure you fulfil at least 75% of the advertised criteria, and use these criteria in your application
• For the hidden job market identify targets and use the 5-step process: Gather targets, identify the right person, reach out to them, prepare for meetings, and follow-up. 

Best of luck with your job searching!

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