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5 Ways to Uncover the Hidden Job Market

By U.S. News & World Report

Some refer to jobs that are not posted as the “hidden job market.” These are opportunities that are not widely advertised on a company’s website or social media. So how can you find such openings if they’re not readily available? It takes some work but could be well worth your while since the majority of jobs are secured through people you know. There are several ways to go about it.

Connect with in-house recruiters. Where do in-house recruiters hang out every single day? LinkedIn! Search for recruiters at the companies you want to target and follow them, or even better, ask them to connect. Send a personal note that describes briefly who you are and why you want to connect. Once you make the connection, you can ask if you can send them your resume for review via email. Not only does that make it easy for them to quickly respond with their email address, they can easily forward and share it with other recruiters as well as upload it into the company’s applicant tracking system for future candidate searches.

[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]

Connect with decision-makers. If you find you’re not having luck with in-house recruiters at your target companies, find a way to reach the decision-makers in the appropriate department where you think you’d fit. You can try writing them if you have connections in common and mention these links, or you can find a way to meet them in person. If you do write them, be creative: avoid cliches and be specific. Tell them why you are attracted to their company and how you think you can help based on a problem you solved in your current or a past job.

Connect with external headhunters. In order to find external headhunters who are always searching for good opportunities and candidates to fill them, ask friends or colleagues in your industry who have changed jobs if they know anyone worth introducing you to. Also, search Google and LinkedIn for local headhunters who make placements in your field and contact them. While they may not have any immediate opportunities, this is another set of eyes on jobs that you may never see or hear about on your own.

[See: The 25 Best Social Services Jobs of 2017.]

Attend events with recruiters and decision-makers in your industry. Emails and InMails simply cannot replace meeting people face to face. Go to industry events where recruiters and decision-makers hang out. Practice your elevator pitch beforehand and bring your business cards. Don’t go full professional conversation on people immediately — ease into your chat by making it personal. For example, ask where the person went to school, what they do on the weekend or what book they are reading to see what you might have in common and develop a relationship from there.

Tap into common connections you may be neglecting. People often forget about one of the benefits of attending college — the network. You may have networks of thousands to tap into from undergraduate and graduate schools. Many have online career databases and others have Facebook and LinkedIn groups of alumni. Don’t limit your search to people who graduated in your year. The camaraderie many will feel with you simply by nature of having gone to the same school is enough. When you get in contact to introduce yourself, tell the person why you are writing and ask if she would be willing to have a brief chat over the phone or email about her career path. In other words, don’t immediately make it about you, and you’ll be more likely to receive a response.

[See: 10 Ways Social Media Can Help You Land a Job.]

Once you begin making contact with recruiters and headhunters, make sure to always respond to their emails and accept InMails on LinkedIn. While it may not be an opportunity you’re interested in, reply to their note to say what types of opportunities are better suited for you in the hopes that they’ll get in touch in the future with positions that fit your criteria. If you don’t respond, you’re likely to close the door with that person which won’t help you at all down the road, so think long term and keep the conversation going.

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5 Ways to Uncover the Hidden Job Market originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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