Three Reasons Why You Should Pay Employers A Courtesy Visit
No Job Ad? No Problem
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” — Milton Berle
While looking for jobs after my graduate degree, I often encountered a stumbling block when applying online.
Everyone does the same thing.
The implication?
I don't get the attention that I want.
One day, I decided to try something different.
I approached key persons in choice organisations on LinkedIn and asked for a referral.
I wanted to keep it focused, so I only spoke to three firms as a start.
After visiting and conversing with these firms, I realised they needed new employees. Yet it was never posted online.
During our chat, they would say things along the lines of:
We were thinking about adding more staff, as we are busy now.
We just launched a new project and plan to recruit soon.
This revelation got me thinking.
If they are looking for staff to fill positions, why haven’t they advertised these roles online yet?
I quickly concluded that there is a hidden job market.
Employers might not post some job ads online due to several reasons.
They Don’t Know They Need Someone
… Until the right person shows up
Sometimes, employers don’t know they need someone until the right person with the right skills shows up at their door.
It’s like realising you are hungry after someone presents you with a nice meal. Your tummy signals to your brain. Immediately, you realise you are hungry.
It’s the same with employers too.
Many don’t realise they need someone until the right person shows up.
“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” — Chris Grosser
A few years back, I approached some employers, and I was surprised by the number who became interested and wanted to offer me a role.
It turns out they had workloads and didn’t realise they needed an extra hand until I showed up.
Make a list of employer wishlists and pay them a visit. It might be your lucky day. I’d suggest you network with relevant staff on LinkedIn before showing up.
They Are Too Busy To Post The Job Online
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” — Seneca
What if they realise a position needs to be advertised online yet haven't done it?
Life gets busy, and employers get busy too. The pending job ad might be sitting on HR’s desk. They just haven’t got to it yet, because of other priorities.
So, if you are lucky enough to find this employer while the job ad is still pending, your chances of getting the job are higher.
You’d be saving the employer some good money and time.
They want it easy.
They don’t jump online to post these jobs straightaway.
Online applications are commonplace today. An overwhelming number of job seekers wait to respond to job ads. This is how they know how to job hunt.
While this might be good for employers, it does present new challenges. They must deal with hundreds or thousands of applications.
While large organisations have the resources, such as the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), to manage these applications, small to medium-sized firms don’t have these resources.
They prefer not to have these posted online (yet) and only want to discuss if they find a suitable candidate via referral or other means.
If you get lucky and come across this employer with a job you want, then your chances of landing a role are higher.
Why?
You will be in the driver’s seat to land the role.
They Are Waiting For An Internal Referral
Many employers prefer referrals to the traditional job ad response route.
It’s easier.
Scan 500+ applications for one position, or wave a magic wand and find the super candidate in front of you. Which would you prefer?
Some employers reward referrals with benefits after finalising the recruitment process.
At every job, I get asked if I know someone that might be a good fit for a new role before it goes public.
You see, hiring a new employee brings its risks. You don’t know if the person will perform well on the job. Many employers have this fear, too, so the job does not make it online immediately.
If you know an insider within a company, check with them to understand their current needs.
Ask for their current challenges and see how you can use this information to your advantage.
Sure, you might not always get in, but good chances are you would be getting in if they need someone that fits your skills.
Closing Thoughts
There are many reasons why you should approach employers at random. You don’t have to wait for a job ad to go public before you speak with them.
Many employers prefer a referral, don’t know they need someone or are too busy to post the job application online.
If you struggle to find jobs through the online application, I encourage you to consider other routes by meeting the employers directly. It might be your lucky day, and this meeting might end with a contract.
Sure, there might be some misses, but all you need is one YES. And the thousand NOs will no longer matter once you get this one YES.
Good luck!
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