you can about the tasks, skills, and experiences they may be looking for. This will help you to write a resume and cover letter that is relevant to their organization.

Staying focused on a specific industry or position will make the task of researching companies much easier. Starting with too broad of a scope can be overwhelming and you may find you never get aroun

Did you know that as many as 80% of all available jobs are never advertised? That staggering number is one of the biggest obstacles that job seekers face when searching for employment. Understanding how to access this hidden job market can give you an advantage over your competition.

Here are 5 tips to get you started:

1. Network. Network. Network. The most important first step in accessing the hidden job market is to network. Get out there and talk to anyone and everyone who may be able to give you insight into where there are jobs.

Start by making a list of everyone you can talk to. These people do not have to be friends, or even acquaintances, just anyone with whom you have enough of a common thread to initiate a conversation. Great potential networking contacts include friends, acquaintances, neighbors, relatives, church members, classmates, teachers, club members, employers, supervisors, colleagues, subordinates, clients, customers and fellow association members.

Help these people to help you by making it easy for them. Instead of asking specifically if they know of any job openings, ask them for tips, leads and suggestions. If they know of a job, they’ll be sure to mention it. If not, the information and contacts you gain can be invaluable.

2. Research potential employers. Since you’ll be applying for a job without seeing a job description, it’s important to research the company to find out as much as you can about the tasks, skills, and experiences they may be looking for. This will help you to write a resume and cover letter that is relevant to their organization.

Staying focused on a specific industry or position will make the task of researching companies much easier. Starting with too broad of a scope can be overwhelming and you may find you never get around

trong> The most important first step in accessing the hidden job market is to network. Get out there and talk to anyone and everyone who may be able to give you insight into where there are jobs.

Start by making a list of everyone you can talk to. These people do not have to be friends, or even acquaintances, just anyone with whom you have enough of a common thread to initiate a conversation. Great potential networking contacts include friends, acquaintances, neighbors, relatives, church members, classmates, teachers, club members, employers, supervisors, colleagues, subordinates, clients, customers and fellow association members.

Help these people to help you by making it easy for them. Instead of asking specifically if they know of any job openings, ask them for tips, leads and suggestions. If they know of a job, they’ll be sure to mention it. If not, the information and contacts you gain can be invaluable.

2. Research potential employers. Since you’ll be applying for a job without seeing a job description, it’s important to research the company to find out as much as you can about the tasks, skills, and experiences they may be looking for. This will help you to write a resume and cover letter that is relevant to their organization.

Staying focused on a specific industry or position will make the task of researching companies much easier. Starting with too broad of a scope can be overwhelming and you may find you never get aroun

to initiate a conversation. Great potential networking contacts include friends, acquaintances, neighbors, relatives, church members, classmates, teachers, club members, employers, supervisors, colleagues, subordinates, clients, customers and fellow association members.

Help these people to help you by making it easy for them. Instead of asking specifically if they know of any job openings, ask them for tips, leads and suggestions. If they know of a job, they’ll be sure to mention it. If not, the information and contacts you gain can be invaluable.

2. Research potential employers. Since you’ll be applying for a job without seeing a job description, it’s important to research the company to find out as much as you can about the tasks, skills, and experiences they may be looking for. This will help you to write a resume and cover letter that is relevant to their organization.

Staying focused on a specific industry or position will make the task of researching companies much easier. Starting with too broad of a scope can be overwhelming and you may find you never get aroun

know of any job openings, ask them for tips, leads and suggestions. If they know of a job, they’ll be sure to mention it. If not, the information and contacts you gain can be invaluable.

2. Research potential employers. Since you’ll be applying for a job without seeing a job description, it’s important to research the company to find out as much as you can about the tasks, skills, and experiences they may be looking for. This will help you to write a resume and cover letter that is relevant to their organization.

Staying focused on a specific industry or position will make the task of researching companies much easier. Starting with too broad of a scope can be overwhelming and you may find you never get aroun

you can about the tasks, skills, and experiences they may be looking for. This will help you to write a resume and cover letter that is relevant to their organization.

Staying focused on a specific industry or position will make the task of researching companies much easier. Starting with too broad of a scope can be overwhelming and you may find you never get around to actually contacting any companies.

3. Learn how to sell yourself. When a company has not requested resumes for a specific position it can be difficult to get the attention of the key decision maker. After researching potential employers you should have a better understanding of what they’re looking for. Use this information to sell yourself.

Do this by answering the question “why should this employer hire me?” Be specific and creative when you list all relevant experience, training and skills that will be of interest to them. Make sure your resume spells out your key selling points so that the employer is left with little doubt that you are a perfect fit for the organization. Even if they don’t have a job available immediately, they’ll most certainly keep your resume on file for future openings.

4. Get your resume to the right person. If your networking or company research produced the name of a person who is responsible for hiring then start by calling the company and verifying that person’s name and contact information. If you don't know of a specific contact at the company, call and ask for someone by title. For example you might say, "I need to write a letter to your head of accounting. May I know his or her name, please?" If you can't think of anyone at all, ask for the president. It’s unlikely you’ll get through to him or her, but the secretary can point you in the right direction.

Once you have a pers