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The job hunt can be intense and time-consuming. For each opportunity, you are updating your CV, writing a cover letter, and waiting for a response.
It may surprise you that, outside of the traditional approach, there are other ways to find a job.
An experienced recruiter shares how:
1. Notify your contacts that you are looking.
People want to be helpful, especially if they have the means. By informing your contacts that you are looking for something new, they will think of you when something comes along that suits you.
You can also ask them for tips or advice, which can often lead to surprising ideas that you have
not thought of yourself. Just over half of all vacancies are filled via referrals, so do not underestimate the power of your network.
2. Open applications.
With an open application, you apply for a job for which there is no vacancy, for example, because you would like to work for a certain organisation. Your application is less likely to end up in a big pile along with your competitors, and, if a vacancy becomes available in the future, you might have an edge.
Since you are not applying for a specific position, emphasise in your cover letter what you have to offer, and why you would like to work for this specific organisation. According to research, one in five vacancies are filled by an open application, so it is definitely worth a try.
3. Visit events and lectures.
If there is one place where you can find people who share the same interests, it is at events and lectures in your field. Of course, do not ask for a job off the bat. If you build a rapport with someone, you can mention it in passing. This is also a great place to make new contacts. At the very least, you are doing something fun.
4. Use a recruiter.
If there is anyone who has a large network and knows what is possible, it is a recruiter. Recruiters are used by organisations for many reasons, for example:
A position needs to be filled at short notice.
An organisation has decided to outsource its hiring.
A role is complex to fill.
In short: a recruiter has the intel on jobs that are not public.
It is in a recruiter’s interest that the percentage of candidates who are invited for a job interview and ultimately receive an offer is as high as possible. To achieve this, they are selective, and they support the candidate through the application process. At the same time, they maintain a large network, primed and ready to be taken advantage of by candidates.
It might be that your profile is not a good match for a certain job but can be the perfect fit for another. Make sure to read our article “Using LinkedIn to its full potential during your job search”, for our top tips on improving your LinkedIn profile today.
You can in touch with our experienced team of Talent Acquisition Specialists today, at: applications@trm-international.com
We are here and happy to help with all your recruitment needs, from CV to interview advice.
You can also check out some of our public job opportunities here.