[Bristir Chhonde]

hmmm, abroad er kotha boli...

Network. Network. Network.The most important first step in accessing the hidden job market is to network. Get out there and talk to anyone and everyone who may be able to give you insight into where there are jobs.

Start by making a list of everyone you can talk to. These people do not have to be f riends, or even acquaintances, just anyone with whom you have enough o f a common thread to initiate a conversation.

Great potential networking contacts include friends, acquaintances, neighbors, relatives, classmates, teachers, club members, employers, supervisors, colleagues, subordinates, clients, customers and fellow association members.

Research potential employers. Since you’ll be applying for a job without seeing a job description, it’s important to research the company to find out as much as you can about the tasks, skills, and experiences they may be looking for. This will help you to write a resume and cover letter that is relevant to their organization.

Staying focused on a specific industry or position will make the task of researching companies much easier. Starting with too broad of a scope can be overwhelming and you may find you never get around to actually contacting any companies.

Learn how to sell yourself . When a company has not requested resumes for a specific position it can be difficult to get the attention of the key decision maker. After researching potential employers you should have a better understanding of what they’re looking for. Use this information to sell yourself .

Get your resume to the right person. I f your networking or company research produced the name o f a person who is responsible f or hiring then start by calling the company and veri f ying that person’s name and contact in f ormation.

I f you don't know of a specific contact at the company, call and ask for someone by title. For example you might say, "I need to write a letter to your head o f accounting. May I know his or her name, please?" If you can't think o f anyone at all, ask f or the president. It’s unlikely you’ll get through to him or her, but the secretary can point you in the right direction.

Once you have a person’s name you can send a personalized cover letter and resume. In the letter, be sure to state exactly what kind of job you’re looking for. Simply saying that you’re looking for any available position does not make you come across as a good candidate.

End your letter by telling them you'll be calling them within 48 hours. Don’t leave them waiting too long to hear from you or you’ll be forgotten.

Don’t take “no” for an answer. It’s rarely easy to get the attention of decision makers in a company. Even once you know the proper person to contact, you still have the task of getting your resume into his or her hands. In this situation persistence really does pay off , so stick with it.

The key to getting through to them is to anticipate what problems you may encounter and have a plan for how you’ll deal with them. Some of the most common problems you’re likely to face are:

• Gatekeepers: These are the secretaries and assistants whose job is to keep you away from the decision maker. Get around them by calling at least once a day until you reach the decision maker directly. You can also try calling after hours or at lunch time.
• Voicemail: Leave a message with the specifics of why you’re calling and your contact information. Then end the call by saying that you’ll call them back and when. This is a good introduction for when you are able to get them on the phone.
• Objections: When you do get through to the decision maker you may be met with a series of objections. “We’re not hiring” or “I’m too busy right now” are common, so expect to hear them. Usually reassuring them that you will only take a moment o f their time and then quickly stating your reason f or calling is the best approach. -Bill Zhou

Enough Lecturing