How to Get a Job in the Hidden Job Market in 2015

I just received a nice email from a woman who had just read The Essential Guide for Hiring & Getting Hired. She mentioned on Amazon that my point that most interviewers don’t ask relevant questions was correct. As a result, they are not able to determine if a job seeker is both competent and motivated to do the actual work required. Not knowing what the actual work is the fundamental problem. As a result they tend to hire the person who's the best interviewer, not the best person for the job.

Unfortunately for this woman, she didn’t get the job. But she’ll do better on her next interview by following some of the advice described in the book and in the training series mentioned in the video below. However, the following is one major principle every job seeker must follow to make sure they’re evaluated properly. It starts by finding out what the actual work is before answering any questions.

The Big Principle for Getting Interviewers to Ask Job Seekers the Right Questions

First, ask the interviewer to describe the top two or three objectives required for job success. Then describe an accomplishment you’ve had that is most comparable using the SAFW methodology described in the video series and in this post.

This is called a forced-choice question. The technique will help improve your odds for getting the job by answering questions that address your ability to do the actual work. I know this sounds obvious, but if you’re now being interviewed for a job I suspect you’ve discovered that most interviewers ask a bunch of irrelevant questions. This technique will quickly turn the tables to your favor.

Of course, the other big principle covered in the book and training series is the idea that most jobs are filled in the hidden job market before they’re ever advertised. That’s why I suggest implementing a 20-20-60 job hunting program.

2015 promises to be a strong year for hiring, but if you follow the traditional job-hunting approaches the best you’ll do is get a decent job. However by being different, using the hidden market to get more interviews and making sure you’re asked the right questions you might just wind up with a much better job. It might even be the first step in a great career.

_______________________

Lou Adler (@LouA) is the CEO of The Adler Group, a consulting and training firm helping companies implement Performance-based Hiring. He's also a regular columnist for Inc. Magazine and BusinessInsider. His latest book, The Essential Guide for Hiring & Getting Hired (Workbench, 2013), provides hands-on advice for job-seekers, hiring managers and recruiters on how to find the best job and hire the best people. His new video program provides job seekers inside secrets on what it takes to get a job in the hidden job market.