Are you spending more than an hour each day scouring job postings in search of a new job? 

If yes, stop.

These published postings are part of the visual job market and result in the submission of hundreds (even thousands) of resumes.  While searching the visual market may provide leads and land an interview, hiring managers are more likely to prioritize internal candidates and referrals previously identified in the hidden job market. 

That’s the market I want you to shop.

Instead of spending an hour or two daily hunting fresh postings, I want you to re-focus your primary effort on making connections and optimizing your online branding.  Not only will this activity help you learn more about how to break into a job or field but it’s also where recruiters are hoping to find you.

Unsure where to start?  Here are three quick steps you can take today to enter the hidden market:

1. First, review your summary profile (online and print) to ensure a match between your skills and experiences and the job you are seeking.  This step will help make your resume and LinkedIn profile easier for recruiters to find since you will be using the appropriate keywords.  
   


2. Next, edit your public profile URL on LinkedIn to just include your name and add the link to your profile on your resume.  These quick fixes will help drive recruiters to your online record of experiences, achievements, and industry activity.
   


3. Finally, reach out to connections online using a personalized message.  Acknowledge mutual relationships, experiences, and groups and how you hope to help one another.  As someone who receives weekly requests to learn more about my work and organizations I work with, I find these conversations great opportunities to give insight and encouragement as well as receive mutual support.  
   

I really appreciate that you are reading my post. I regularly write about career and college success. If you would like to read my regular posts, please visit my Facebook page and click the "like" button to follow me. You can also connect with me via Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. 

Question of the day:  My daughter has the flu and cannot attend her prescheduled visits to two of her top schools over break.  Will she hurt her chances of being admitted if she is a no show?  

The fear of not showing adequate interest to a college during the admissions process is a frequent hot topic during this time of the year.  With decisions for admission pending, students rely on campus visits as a primary means to demonstrate their high level of interest in a college.  Behind the scenes, admissions staff use this tracking as a tool to predict yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll in a college).

While these students are correct in their belief that some colleges do track applicant contact to gauge eagerness to attend, not all do.   According to a study by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, roughly half of all colleges and universities place either moderate or high importance on an applicant's interest in attending the school.  Those institutions not using demonstrated interest as a factor in the admission process believe campus visits better serve as a means of helping students make an informed choice about their college plans.  

My advice?  Do a little research to find out whether or not the colleges to which you are applying put much weight on demonstrated interest.  If they do, campus visits are merely one of the several ways to achieve this task.  Check out these additional useful options:

High School Visits – Admissions counselors routinely travel throughout the admission season to visit students giving you excellent opportunities to connect with representatives from the colleges of your choice.

Mailing List – If you haven’t had an opportunity to connect with a representative at a college fair, but sure to provide your information online to join the mailing list.  

College Fairs – Stop by the booths of the colleges you are interested in to introduce yourself and provide your contact information.  

College Interviews – If the interview is optional, do it.  The interview is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your interest and fit.  Don’t overlook interview opportunities with a student or alum, too.

Thank You Notes - If you connect with a college representative, do send an email the next day to thank him/her for meeting with you.  Be sure to include one or two aspects of the college that appeal to you.  Want to make a great impression?  Send a handwritten note. 

Apply Early –  If you are very certain about your college list, applying early is a clear sign of interest.  With two options available in the early admission process, Early Decision and Early Action, be sure you are clear about the objectives of each.  While both options involve an earlier application deadline than regular admissions and earlier notification of admissions decisions, Early Decision programs are usually binding.

Supplemental Essays – While Common App essays can be used for any school accepting the application, supplemental essays are an opportunity to let you shine and demonstrate your interest.  As with any writing you are submitting during the application process, be sure to answer the question you are being asked in the supplemental essay with a concise, well-crafted response.


I really appreciate that you are reading my post. I regularly write about career development and college success. If you would like to read my regular posts, please visit my Facebook page and click the "like" button to follow me.  You can also connect with me via Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. 

Have you heard the story about the $5 haircut?  The story goes that there is a small town barber (let’s call him Barber Smith) who has most of the town’s business for many years charging $7 per haircut. 

One day, a new barber (Barber Jones) moves to town and sets up shop directly across from Barber Smith.  Barber Jones promptly places a “$5 Haircut” sign on the front of his store.

As can be expected, many of Barber Smith’s long-time customers stray to Barber Jones to save $2 on a haircut.  Not surprisingly, the cheaper haircuts turn out to be substandard with the cuts growing out uneven and unmanageable. 

Of course, none of this surprises Barber Smith, who puts up a new sign of his own:  “We fix $5 haircuts.”

The moral of the story:  Sometimes the cheapest option is not the best choice.

Sometimes I feel like Barber Smith when meeting clients unhappy with resumes prepared by a service promising to undercut the competition.  In an effort to save money, they have settled for a service unable to provide high-quality goods.  In the end, no one wins as the job seeker fails to get maximum results, and the resume service develops a reputation for falling short of professional standards.

Let's face it:  The hours you have spent working jobs you’ve loved or hated and early years studying and training have been an enormous investment. Your resume should reflect this investment and help you define your value to the marketplace. 

When searching for career development services, be sure to invest your time with a professional who has the formal training and background to identify the right strategy for your job search.  The best will have years of experience in career development including expertise in hiring cycles and recruiting best practices.  More importantly, these professionals have invested enormously into their personal development in order to help you craft a resume that will open doors and interview with confidence. 

The moral of your career development story?  Time spent up front collaborating with the right career professional will not only save you money and heartache in the long run, but will also provide you with the competitive edge needed to stand out. 

 
I really appreciate that you are reading my post. I regularly write about career development and college success. If you would like to read my regular posts, please visit my Facebook page and click the "like" button to follow me.  You can also connect with me via Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.