When employers hire, they typically follow this process:

• Look at internal talent
• Solicit referrals from current employees and trusted colleagues
• Pursue top talent within the industry
• Post a position on an online job board

This means that most positions are either filled or have candidates in the pipeline before they are posted (if they ever get posted). The hidden job market consists of the positions that you will never get solely by applying for posted roles.

In order to tap into these hidden roles, it is important to be connected at organizations and in industries where you want to work. This can come through informational interviews, professional associations, and your online social networks like LinkedIn.

For other strategies on how to take advantage of the hidden job market, review our Conducting a Job Search section and our Job Search on-demand tutorial.