Blind hunt could land you a lucrative job

By Peter Kamuri

Getting a job in the labyrinth of the hidden job market is not always easy.

It becomes even harder when you bear in mind that only a small percentage of jobs on offer are openly advertised.

Just ask someone who is working today how they got their current job. They will tell you that they got it through a friend, relative but very few through advertisements.

Then, how can you overcome the challenge of getting these jobs in the hidden market? One of the best ways is to speculatively apply for a job. This is where you blindly make applications to target companies.

However, such a move is not always a bread and butter affair. You require a focused approach that will enable you get the desired results.

The first thing you need to do is to prepare your curriculum vitae and a cover letter. You are advised to make sure that you tailor-make it to suit the position you are targeting.

Where possible, write the name of the target person. Such correspondences lower attrition rates of your application as most often you will get a feedback telling you whether the position is available immediately or not.

As you prepare your CV, you must clearly state what you are looking for. Do you want to work as a volunteer, intern or is it a full-time employment?

Carry out a research of the companies or organisations that you are interested. You can easily get this information from the internet, newspapers, career fairs, special journals and publications.

As you do this, learn as much as possible about the company’s products, organisational structure and competition. Also highlight your skills, interest and the experience you possess. Most potential employers have high regards for employees who have the right skills and experience as these are vital for improved productivity.

It is always a good idea to follow up your applications. You can do this by making a telephone call or visiting the company. This way, you show that you have interest in the job you have applied for.

However, from the onset, you must be aware that applying speculatively for a job can be exasperating as the response rate may be disturbingly low.

What you need is to have an open mind and keep your options wide open. If one application fails to bring in the desired results, move on and make another one until you succeed.