This article is a compilation of seven previous articles I wrote combining the process of effectively using both the advertised and hidden job markets.

You now have sourced suitable job postings using Twitter. Before you spend your precious time completing online applications, you need to first determine if these job openings are real or still available.

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As I mentioned in my first LinkedIn post you also need to:

• Use LinkedIn to locate a company insider with a common connection (professional association, alum, etcetera)
• Request an informational interview to determine the name of the hiring manager, desired characteristics of the potential employee, and etcetera
• Customize your resume and cover letter using this information
• Ask your company insider to deliver your resume and cover letter to the hiring manager

I used this technique several times for suitable advertised postings. I discovered insider information which included:

• Companies were looking to hire internal candidates but had to advertised these positions
• Companies did not have an intent to hire (the positions were not real)

I still had my resume and cover letter delivered to the hiring managers but did not have high expectations. Most importantly, I did not spend time filling out online applications.

Company Insider Process

As I mentioned in my Twitter I and Twitter II articles, you should follow individuals of interest who tweeted jobs (by clicking on their Twitter name and the follow button). For some of these individuals, you will be able to acquire their names and titles by either viewing their Twitter profiles or websites (if they provided an URL).

Next conduct an advanced search using Twellow as I mentioned in my Twitter III article to locate additional company insiders for the companies that have suitable job postings.

Next visit LinkedIn and conduct an advanced search by clicking on the Advanced link to the right of the search field. For each of the company insiders you located on Twitter; type the first name, last name, and company in the appropriate search fields and select the search button. View their profiles to see if they have a common connection with you (professional association, alum, etcetera).

For job postings, where you could not locate a company insider with a common connection on Twitter, follow the advance search process outlined in my LinkedIn I and LinkedIn II articles. You will also use this process to identify company insiders with a common connection for all of your targeted companies.

Networking Process

Next you want to reach out to your company insiders. Please review my 7 Keys to Successful Job Lead Generation article for a step by step process. Below I included samples of introductions you can use when you reach out to company insiders with a common connection.

Company insiders (including hiring managers) contact: “Hello my name is X and I’m a fellow X (common connection) member who is thinking about pursuing opportunities with your company. The reason I am contacting you is to ask a few questions to determine if I should begin my pursuit. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”

Referrals from company insiders to hiring managers: “Hello X, my name is X and I was referred by X who strongly believe I am the ideal X professional (or ideal candidate for X job posting) for these reasons. The purpose of my call is to discuss this further. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”

If you could not locate any current or previous employee with a common connection or generate a referral to a hiring manager; you could conduct a Google search using the hiring manager’s name to locate any publications, quotes, and so on. You can use this information when you reach out to this hiring manager to build rapport.

Cold call to hiring managers: “Hello X, my name is X and I read your article in X publication. Since you are an expert in X and I value your expertise, I will like to learn more. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”

Company insiders contact via Twitter: If the company insiders (with or without a common connection) you located are only on Twitter, you can reach out to them by:

• Following them
• Waiting to see if they follow you in return
• If so, you can send them a message that states: “Thanks for the follow. Let me know how I can help you?”
• If they reply, you can state: “I read a couple of your tweets and I will like to learn more. Do you have a few minutes to chat?”

Next I recommend you read my 5 Tactics to Make Networking Calls with Ease article for the next steps you can take after the networking introductions. As mentioned in this post, your goal is to generate a desired outcome. This outcome could be the delivery of your resume and cover letter to a hiring manager for an advertised job posting, a formal interview, and so on.

Tying it all together, your calls could look similar to the call below:

• Intro – “Hello X, my name is X and I am a fellow Michigan alumnus. How are you?”
• Purpose – “I am thinking about pursuing opportunities with your company. Likewise, the purpose of my call is to ask you a few questions to determine if I should begin my pursuit or not.”
• Permission – “Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
• Info Gathering – Ask questions about the company including challenges, opportunities, culture, ideal employees; your company insider experiences; and so on
• Value – Present elevator pitch of the value you can bring as a problem solver and value creator
• Ask for the sale – Ask for your desired outcome such as a referral to the hiring manager and referrals to other people you can speak with

If you have not done so, I recommend you listen to Duncan Mathison’s “How to Conduct an Effective Holiday Job Search.” This show is excellent!

If you like this episode, I encourage you to visit www.blogtalkradio.com/thecareercatalyst. Next listen to and/or download the previous episodes (if you have not done so), register for a free BlogTalkRadio account, mark this show as a favorite, subscribe to our upcoming shows, and become a regular listener.

How to Conduct an Effective Holiday Job Search. | Download this episode (right click and save)

Tuesday night at 9PM EST tune in to JobRadioUSA’s Episode 22 “How to Land Your Next Job, By Avoiding These Job Search Mistakes” with expert guest Julie Bauke.

Remember the wisdom of a crowd is richer than the wisdom of a few. So actively participate in the free online community at jobradiousa.com and encourage fellow job seekers to do the same.

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