The MicroTrain Blog

Most experts agree that only 15-20% of all available jobs become advertised to the public.   These positions are considered to be “hidden or the “underground” job market. With such a high percentage of jobs going unadvertised, word-of-mouth referral is among the surest way to land a new job.   A study done by CareerXroads finds that a job seeker who gets referred is three to four times more hireable than someone who applies without a referral.  Here are some strategies to get more referrals and to tap into that “underground” job market.

• Network using LinkedIn. Build your LinkedIn network with hundreds of connections and actively engage with them on a regular basis. Optimize your LinkedIn profile and keep it up to date.    Join groups and participate in discussions so people become familiar with your name and may seek you out.  At MicroTrain, we provide monthly LinkedIn Seminars to help all our clients build a professional profile and learn how to navigate LinkedIn to use their network as a referral source.
• The cardinal rule of networking is to give first before you get.   Make sure you maintain an atmosphere of mutual exchange and not just personal gain.  Offer up job leads to others, share ideas, information and resources.  Genuinely help others before asking for help.   
• Research companies that you would consider being a potential employee.   Companies will post on their website and rarely go to job boards.  Most companies have internal referral programs in place, so existing employees can make referrals and thereby eliminate the need for the company to conduct regular searches. 
• Join a professional association within your industry, this will help you network with those in your industry but also help you build a stronger resume.  Volunteer time if they are having an event. 
• Attend local networking events.  Be prepared and practice your “elevator pitch”.   The more specific you are as to the position you are looking for, the better someone might be able to help you.

Building a good referral network requires networking and telling as many people that you come in contact with that you are looking for a new position.   Be patient and persistent, the work you put in will be well worth your investment in time.

The number and quality of connections you have on LinkedIn matter especially when you are networking to find your next job.   According to a recent JobVite Survey, 95 % of recruiters use LinkedIn to search for candidates.   The more connections you have, the better your chances of networking yourself into your next job.

At MicroTrain, we teach how to connect and stress the importance of connecting on LinkedIn in our monthly LinkedIn workshops.   One of our clients, Yolanda Bryant, had only five connections when she started training at MicroTrain.  She attended the LinkedIn workshop at MicroTrain and started connecting and reacquainting herself with friends, family and past co-workers. Yolanda started conversations about her job search after connecting with her acquaintances.   She received three offers from companies, and she credits it all to making connections on LinkedIn.    

Here are some tips to connect on LinkedIn:

Use the “People you may know” Feature.  This tool suggests people you may have come into contact with based on your jobs, schools, people you may have emailed with, friends of friends. Etc.   If someone you know appears here, send them a personal message and invite them to connect.   Does any of these people work for a company where you would want to work?  They could potentially introduce you to the right people.

When adding connections, always override the canned “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn,” and write a personal note.  No one likes to receive a form letter.  When someone accepts an invitation to join your network,  always write a short message and thank them for connecting with you and suggest that if they ever need anything, to please contact you.   Never write about your needs until establishing a relationship.   Don’t be afraid to keep a conversation going. 

Always respond to messages and invitations promptly, especially regarding jobs.   Timing can be everything.   Make sure you check your homepage on LinkedIn regularly and interact with your connections.  The more you develop a relationship with a connection, the easier it will be for them to remember you in the future.  The next time a job opens up; you will want them to think of you.

Join Groups on LinkedIn that are of profession interest to you so you can begin to see and connect with others in similar careers.  At MicroTrain, we have our own MicroTrain Career Services group.  It is a gateway for individuals who are enrolled, or have completed certification training with MicroTrain to gain access to a myriad of employment-related information including notification of open employment opportunities, MicroTrain Hiring Events,