Use Labor Market Information to find out who's really hiring and develop strategies for tapping the "Hidden Job Market". Learn practical tools for job seeking success and discover ten reasons you may not be finding a job.

1. HELP…I NEED A JOB!
Where Are They?
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2. How long will it take to land
another job?
Old Rule of Thumb…
1 month for every $10,000
Example:
$40,000 = 4 months

3. Experts agree that, in this
economy, the average job
search takes
6 months or
more!

4. 10 reasons
why you may not
be finding
a job!

5. 1. You’re not making finding a
job YOUR JOB!
• It takes effort, commitment, and
preparation
• If you want a 40 hour per week
job, you should be job searching
40 hours per week

6. 2. You haven’t developed a
system of finding a job.


Search with Purpose
Develop a Strategic Job Search Plan

7. Developing your Job Search Plan

Organize your job search
◦ Target companies that match your career
goals and values
Map out a strategy
 Set priorities
 Establish goals


8. 3. You have an unrealistic idea
about the market for your skills.
Do a skills inventory
-YOUR skills vs.
REQUIRED skills
Skills you
have
These are the
skills you should
focus on
Skills
employer
wants

9. 4. You aren’t acknowledging
the stress that changing
jobs/job loss entails.
Make sure to stay
healthy, balanced,
aware, and careful

10. Stress Busters
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Get active
Meditate
Laugh
Connect with others
Do yoga

11. Stress Busters
Assert yourself
7. Sleep
8. Journal
9. Get musical
10. Seek counsel
6.

12. 5. You ignore small businesses.
98.4%
of businesses in
Michigan are small
businesses!

13. 6. You don’t recognize that
face-to-face interviews are what
really matters.
Meeting an
employer in
person is what
allows you to
really shine!

14. 7. You don’t prepare well for
interviews.
Preparation is critical!
• Research the company
• Practice answers for common
interview questions
• Prepare examples of what
makes you the best candidate

15. 8. You’re not selling yourself.
Approach your job search as a
method of marketing; YOU are
the product!

16. 9. You have the attitude:
“What can you do for me?”
It’s not about YOU!
It’s about convincing the
employer that you are the
employee they need

17. 10. You’re only looking at the
Advertised Job Market
What is the advertised job market?
• Help Wanted ads
• Job banks
• Advertised job openings

18. It’s not enough to
just search the Help
Wanted ads…
You have to tap into the
Hidden Job Market

19. Hidden Job
Market
U.S. Department of Labor, Bulletin
1886 - 10,400,000 Job Seeker
Survey
Employment Ads
70-95% of jobs
are filled or
created here
Hidden Job
Market
Referrals
HJM
School
Placement
Private/Public
Employment
Agencies

20. Strategies for Accessing the
Hidden Job Market
1.Research—investigate to find hidden jobs:
1. Business directories
2.Search engines
3.Company websites
4.Trade publications
5.Social networking sites

21. Strategies for Accessing the
Hidden Job Market
2. Networking: just what it sounds like—
casting a net to catch job leads
“Networking is simply about building
and maintaining relationships with
people around us. The more people
we know—and the more people the
people we know are connected with—
the more powerful our network.”
Quintessential Careers

22. There are 2 keys to networking
successfully:
1. Know exactly the type of job you want.
2. Remember: you’re not asking for a job.
You’re looking for information that may lead
to a job.

23. Okay…HOW???
Develop a networking mindset
2. Develop a 30 second commercial
3. Identify your target
4. Identify where to network
5. Prepare your meeting strategy
1.

24. Who Should be in Your Network?
Past and present co-workers
 Bosses/Supervisors
 Friends with similar interests
 Colleagues from business associations
 Alumni from your university/school
 Acquaintances from online networking
services
 Family, friends, neighbors, or anyone who
might have a connection that will help


25. Prioritize Your Networking List
A.
Most likely to know of a job
B.
Most likely to know someone who knows
of a job
C.
Very likely knows someone at a targeted
company or organization
D.
Least likely to know someone who knows
of a job

26. Start Networking!
1)
Contact in order of priority
2)
Keep track of networking activity
3)
Tell them you are not asking them to find you a job,
just to keep their eyes and ears open for you
4)
Ask them to be part of your TEAM!
5)
Follow up in 7-10 days
1) Ask if they’ve thought of anyone you can contact
6)
Ask them to let their friends know you’ll be in touch

27. Strategies for Accessing the
Hidden Job Market
3. Develop a list of targeted employers
• Develop a list of keywords
• Grow your list by thinking outside
the box
• Research!

28. Strategies for Accessing the
Hidden Job Market
4. Cold calling
Identify an employer who needs
you to solve their problems…
then make contact!

29. Strategies for Accessing the
Hidden Job Market
5. Stand and Deliver!
Call your contact.
Briefly explain who
you are, what you
know about the
company, and how
you could help with
some challenges
they’re facing.
Ask for a 12 minute
meeting to
demonstrate your
ability to contribute to
the bottom line. Keep
it to 12 minutes,
unless the manager
wants to talk further.

30. Let’s Get Practical!
Tools for Success:
 Résumé
 Cover Letter
 References
 Letters of Recommendation
 Performance evaluations
 Work samples

31. Let’s Get Practical!
Tools for Success:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Get to the decision makers
Practice your interviewing skills
Keep records
Always follow up
Do some cold calling
Have a business card
Use your Elevator Speech
Research

32. And…

33. It’s not just who you know.
It’s who knows

34. Like what you saw?
We hope you found this information
helpful.
Check us out at www.miworksmo.org.
• Give any questions/comments/concerns
• See our workshop schedule
• Learn more about Michigan Works!
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