‘X’ Marks the Spot: Finding the Hidden Job Market

While employment rates in Canada are generally on the rise, job seekers may still be finding job searching difficult. The struggle is real, but hopefully it helps to know you’re not alone. Geopolitical concerns, supply chain disruptions, high inflation and interest rates, are some common factors that are slowing down the recruitment process, all of which are out of the control of individual job seekers. So, what can job seekers control through the job search process?

Where you’re looking.

Read on to get some tips to help you find the hidden job market to land your next job. 

For Our Next Trick, We Reveal the Hidden Job Market

It may seem counterintuitive, but a large percentage of jobs aren’t on job sites, like Indeed. Employers may avoid third-party job sites because of the cost of posting or if they have not seen success in the past. 

While you shouldn’t avoid job sites, here are 3 other places to find jobs: 

1. Go straight to the employer: Research employers in the communities you’re interested in working in and look directly on the employer website.

Bonus tip: When we say go straight to the employer, we mean it! Don’t be afraid to set up meetings and literally knock on doors. In this chronically online era, in-person meetings are rare and impressive. 

The #1 Misconception About Job Postings

Once you’ve found the hidden job market don’t fall victim to this job search booby trap: you don’t need to meet 100% of the job posting’s criteria to be competitive. 

When employers post jobs, they’re providing their ideal criteria; ie. in a perfect world, the successful candidate would have all of those criteria. But this isn’t a perfect world, and employers know this. Don’t self-select out of a great job just because you don’t think you’re the “perfect fit”. Chances are, you’re a stronger candidate than you think. 

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