In this worksheet we are going to take a good look at where the jobs are to be found: 1. The Visible job market – containing 30% of all jobs 2. The Hidden job market – containing 70% of all jobs, with less competition! It’s a no-brainer – where would you spend most of your time looking? Read on, and you’ll find out how!

1. Want2get on? is a unique career coaching service that offers 1:1 support for those who
want to draw upon their Christian faith and apply it in a practical way to their job situation.
www.want2geton.co.uk Tel: 07503 177126 charles@want2geton.co.uk
How to beat the competit on in your job search!
competition
In this worksheet we are going to take a good look at where the jobs are to be
found:
1. The Visible job market – containing 30% of all jobs
2. The Hidden job market – containing 70% of all jobs, with less competition!
It’s a no-brainer – where would you spend most of your time looking?
ere
Read on, and you’ll find out how!
ll
What is the best way to find a job?
For a start, you have to develop an effective strategy that will enable you to find a suitable
job as quickly as possible and with the least amount of trouble and effort. If your strategy is
s
not working, you need to review the way you’re looking for a particular job
It is said that only 30% of job vacancies are openly advertised to the public. This l
leaves an
amazing 70% of jobs that are left to be found in the ‘hidden job market’! The question that
arises is: with the limited time you have got, where do you look for a job? Is there a best
method or strategy when conducting a jobjob-search?
Experts say that one in every three job hunters become unsuccessful because they
ay
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2. abandoned their job hunt prematurely. When asked why, many would say: ‘I never thought
that this would take so long and I ran out of energy.’ As a result, it’s wise to invest what
energy you do have into a job-hunting strategy where the odds are more favourable!
Which strategy should you adopt for job hunting? The answer is: a varied approach.
The 30% Visible Job Market
1) The Internet
This is now an essential method when making job searches and applications. Application
forms and CVs can be submitted via www. and e-mail. However, it is worth remembering
that no standards exist to guarantee information content or levels of service on www. You
may need to satisfy yourself that the company is bona fide before sending your personal
details through to a website.
Many employers are now advertising their vacancies online, and ask applicants to apply
online, and they will often tell you whether or not you have been successful by e-mail. In
some cases, this is now the only way that some employers fill their vacancies.
• Over 90% of recruitment companies advertise job vacancies online.
• There are currently over 1000 online Job Boards in the UK.
• To make sure you keep up with the latest vacancies, you will need to:
1. Find ways of having access to the internet.
2. Have your own e-mail address.
3. Know how to find vacancies and fill in applications online.
Using the internet to find Job Boards
Jobs are usually advertised on Job Boards, which are like electronic newspapers.
Generally, there are three types of Job Boards:
• Niche Job Boards are dedicated to particular professions or industries.
• General Job Boards advertise all types of vacancies.
• Local Job Boards advertise all types of jobs in the area they cover.
You can search for the right job boards by using a search engine (for example Google or
Yahoo), which can be saved in your favourites list of websites.
Finding internet access
If you have access to the internet at home, then it’s easy. If not, here are a few
suggestions:
• You can use UK online centres, which are based in the community, such as in internet
cafés, a public library, a college, a community centre or a village hall. Some even move
around from place to place to give more people the chance to go online. You can find
your nearest UK online centre in England by phoning 0800 77 1234
• Your local library may have computers that are connected to the internet.
• You may have friends or relatives who are happy to let you use their computer to go
online.
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3. A list of online career and recruitment sites
www.activate.co.uk www.graduate.com
www.doctorjob.co.uk www.insidecareers.co.uk
www.eurograduate.com www.jobs.ac.uk
www.get.hobsons.co.uk www.mbajobs.net
www.get.hobsons.co.uk www.milkround.co.uk
www.graduate-recruitment.co.uk www.prospects.ac.uk
www.grb.uk.com
http://3wjobs.com www.jobsin.co.uk
www.agencycentral.co.uk www.jobsite.co.uk
www.alljobsuk.com www.jobsworld.co.uk
www.brookstreet.co.uk www.jobexpress.co.uk
www.fish4.co.uk/jobs www.jump4jobs.co.uk
www.gisajob.com www.manpower.co.uk
http://jobs.guardian.co.uk www.monster.co.uk
www.hays.com www.reed.co.uk
www.hotrecruit.com http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk
www.jobs.co.uk www.timesonline.co.uk
www.jobs1.co.uk www.totaljobs.com
www.jobsfor.co.uk www.workcircle.co.uk
www.workthing.co.uk
2) Jobcentre Plus
They advertise job vacancies on public display boards. If you identify a job that you are
interested in, a Jobcentre Plus adviser can provide more details and make appointments
for interview. Visit www.gov.uk/jobsearch for more details. To make a new claim for
benefit call 0800 0 55 66 88
3) Local and National Newspapers
They are a good source of vacancies. It’s a good idea to find out what day your local paper
comes out and for larger newspapers find out which days they advertise certain jobs. For
example The Guardian advertises IT jobs on Mondays. Newspapers also keep you up-to-
date on which companies are moving into your area and creating new jobs.
4) Professional and Trade Journals
They relate to particular sectors of work, and can be an excellent source of vacancies, e.g.
for jobs in the advertising sector look in the journal Campaign and for nursing look in The
Nursing Times. Popular trade journals and magazines can be available either in your local
library or newsagents.
5) Recruitment Agencies
They have the advantage of working closely with employers. Anyone can register with a
recruitment agency to look for work but they will only match you to a job if you have what
an employer is looking for. Agencies offer both full-time, part-time work and temporary
work. Some agencies deal with specific vacancies such as catering, whilst other agencies
cover a variety of different occupations, from unskilled to managerial.
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4. Agencies will require information from you relating to your past experience, qualifications,
skills and possibly references, and this is where a good CV will come in useful. Details
about different agencies can be found in the Yellow Pages or other local directories, which
can be found in libraries. If you are looking for senior management and executive level
vacancies, there are fee-paying agencies which provide advice and counselling as well as
possible job vacancies, which are often advertised in the national newspapers.
How do I get the most out of a recruitment agency?
To get the most out of a recruitment agency, it is important to remember to sell yourself to
them so that they understand what skills and attributes you have to offer the employers on
their database.
To make the most out of your recruitment agency, make sure you:
• Keep in regular contact with them.
• Give them all the information they need (including all your contact details and
references).
• Are honest in the details that you give them about yourself.
• Keep your CV accurate and up-to-date.
• Tell them if there is a particular type of job you don’t want (be up-front and save time).
• Listen to any advice from your consultant about improving your CV (remember they are
professionals and they want to help you get a job).
• Talk to your agency if they are not finding you work. It may be because there is not
enough of the type of work you want and you might want to think about other types of
work you are willing to do. Or, you could register with another agency that offers the
type of work you are looking for.
6) Job and Careers Fairs
These can provide information about recruiting trends, career options and current
openings in specific organisations. They will also give you the opportunity to develop your
network of career contacts. Remember to take copies of your CV, dress as you would for
an interview and collect as many business cards as you can so that you can follow them
up at a later date.
The 70% Hidden Job Market
1) Networking/Using your contacts
Many vacancies are never actually advertised but rely on staff already working in the
organisation to spread the word. Ask your friends and relatives to keep a lookout for you
in their companies. Networking is one of the most successful ways of finding employment
and does not necessarily involve asking your friends for a job. It could form part of your job
research – who works where, who knows who, who can tell you what it is like to work for a
particular company, who can give you advice about your career path etc. You will be
surprised at how many people you really know!
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5. Extending your own network
Think about all the people you know or who you have met, who could help you find out
more.
Who do you know & where? Email address Tel. No.
Current business colleague …………….
…………….
Ex business colleague …………….
…………….
…………….
Ex bosses/employers …………….
…………….
Suppliers/reps you have dealt with …………….
…………….
Fellow members of trade …………….
associations …………….
…………….
Your old clients/customers …………….
…………….
Solicitor/bank manager/accountant …………….
…………….
…………….
Contacts in your church …………….
…………….
Family friends …………….
…………….
Social friends/neighbours …………….
…………….
School, College or University friends …………….
…………….
Your partner’s contacts …………….
…………….
…………….
Others…..
…………….
Using the internet to network
The internet gives us unprecedented access to large numbers of people in our own
country and across the world. There are many different internet sites that can give you an
excellent chance to network and discover who is out there working in an organisation that
you would like to get into. It can be a big help if you can create a link with someone who
could act as an introduction for you into their organisation. They could also give you
valuable information about the organisation, which you could use to your benefit during a
job interview.
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/
LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking and is mainly used for professional
networking. At the start of 2013, LinkedIn had more than 90 million registered users in over
200 countries worldwide. This networking site offers professionals exceptional potential for
networking and career development through new and existing contacts.
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6. Some other useful sites to develop your presence:
• www.facebook.com
• twitter.com
• www.meetup.com
• Whichever social media network you use
2) Speculative Approaches (See resources sheet on this subject)
This is an excellent way of approaching companies of particular interest to you. You could
send them your CV together with a well thought-out covering letter to ask if they have any
vacancies at present or expect to have any in the near future.
It may be worth finding out where they advertise and how often vacancies for which you
are suited occur. A Google search, Yellow Pages Directory, www.yell.co.uk and
www.thomson-directories.co.uk will identify potential employers.
Your local chambers of commerce will also be able supply you with a list of local
businesses, which could indicate likely companies for you to target.
3) Voluntary Work
Make a contribution to the local community by working free of charge during the day,
evenings or weekends, e.g. by working in a caring environment or manning a telephone
nightline or a hospital radio station. Voluntary work is good for your self-esteem, it will
impress any potential employer and, of course and it will help other people.
Voluntary offers an excellent way to gain work experience, and is also viewed by
employers as being potentially as valuable as paid employment. It can offer a much
needed break to get you into a particular job sector.
How to find voluntary work?
• Contact local Volunteer Centre or visit: www.do-it.org.uk
• Contact organisations directly
• Do a Google search for voluntary opportunities
4) Self Employment
Starting up your own business could be a solution to your hunt for employment. Use your
initiative to sell your skills, a product or service e.g. IT consultancy or childminding. Your
local Business Link will also advise on all aspects of starting up a business i.e. grants,
business planning, finding premises etc. They may also run training programmes to assist
you. For further information, visit: www.businesslink.gov.uk
You can also get information and advice from the small business adviser at most high
street banks. If you need legal advice on how to set up a business, the Law Society
provides an initiative ‘Lawyers in Business’. Telephone 020 7405 9075 for a list of lawyers
operating the scheme in your area who will give you a half-hour free consultation.
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7. Business Start Agencies
• www.businesslink.gov.uk (Also includes business start-up advice for disabled people)
• http://www.start.biz/home.htm
• www.startups.co.uk
• www.fredericksfoundation.org (Business start-up advice for disabled people. Covers
most of Southern England)
• www.adp.org.uk (The Association of disabled Professionals)
• www.fsb.org.uk (Federation of Small Businesses)
• www.smarta.com Start up business advice from Entrepreneurs
The trick with developing an effective job search strategy is do some of each of the above.
Don’t spend too much time and effort with those job search strategies where the odds are
less favourable!
Want2get on? is a unique career coaching service that offers 1:1 support for those who
want to draw upon their Christian faith and apply it in a practical way to their job situation.
www.want2geton.co.uk Tel: 07503 177126 charles@want2geton.co.uk
© Copyright Want2geton? Christian Career Coaching UK 2013