Is there a hidden job market for executive jobs and how can I access it?

Many executive jobs (and more junior roles too) are not advertised and this is what people generally mean when they refer to a hidden job market.  This is particularly true of C-level roles. Large bureaucratic companies and public sector organizations will often advertise senior roles in traditional or new media, but many private sector companies rely on other methods to fill senior posts; headhunters, personal contacts and internal recruiters.     

Headhunters/executive search organizations: many senior roles are briefed to headhunting companies. Senior executives may have a relationship with a particular headhunting company or a particular individual headhunter and they may retain them to source candidates. The headhunter will utilise their research team and their personal contacts to build a shortlist.

Personal contacts: the hiring company may contact potential recruits that they know from competitors. They may rehire former employees. They may ask current employees to refer candidates.  

Internal recruiters: in recent years, there has been a large increase in the number of ex-headhunters who have been recruited by corporates to find new senior recruits.  This process has been facilitated by the growth of LinkedIn which makes it much easier to find suitable candidates.

Given the existence of this hidden job market how can you access it? In the longer term do these three things:

1/ Make sure you are known in your industry.  Speak at conferences and seminars, get involved in industry-wide organizations, blog if that is your thing etc.

2/ LinkedIn: make sure your profile is up-to-date, have a photo on your profile, get help with writing your profile if needed, consider a premium account. Focus on your professional achievements for each role listed on your profile and don’t just list your responsibilities.                         

3/ Develop relationships with the key headhunters in your industry; maybe use their services, help them when they ask you for advice.

In the shorter term, if you have been made redundant or want to find a new role quickly here’s what I suggest:    

1/ Make sure your CV and LinkedIn profile are as good as they can be. See my other blog posts about this subject. Get help if needed. Make sure your CV/profile are short and simple with a focus on what you have added to each company you have worked for.

2/ Send your CV to the leading headhunters in your sector/discipline.  Do not rely on just one or two headhunters; each one will not know about all the senior vacancies in their specialist area so contact at least 10 of them, and maybe up to 20.    

3/ Use your personal network: tell your contacts you are in the job market and ask if they have any advice or can help in any way.

4/ Still apply for advertised roles but bear in mind that this is the least effective way to find a new senior position.

5/ Reach out to prospective employers: if you know senior people who work for them, get in touch. Tell them you are in the job market. If you don’t know people at your target companies, contact the CEO or HR Director or Head of Talent. Tell them you would like to potentially work for them and what you could bring in terms of skills/experience.

I can also help – see my website http://www.djmro.com I offer executive  CV-writing and two unique senior job-search service packages for telco/tech execs.