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Have you always harboured that feeling that the best jobs are never advertised and only go to people with inside information? Well, you may just be right.

The fact is, some of the very best graduate jobs never make it into the job ads - instead they’re snapped up early by those in the know. Many firms would much rather take on a good candidate who’s on hand and is a known quantity rather than having to bear the cost and time of advertising and interviewing.

Maria Lucio, associate consultant psychologist for assessment and career coaching specialists Chromis Consulting says: ‘Many graduate level jobs are not advertised - approximately 70 per cent in fact. Therefore jobseekers need to be both creative and adopt proactive approaches in their search for vacancies.’

Careers experts call the phenomenon the ‘hidden job market’ but say it is one of the most important areas when hunting for a position.

John Lees, author of How To Get A Job You’ll Love says: ‘The only strategy is to start to become visible. Your aim should be to the person whose name crops up before a company decides to advertise the job.’

Here we look at the best ways of getting unadvertised jobs.

On spec CVs and letters
If you’ve got a shortlist of firms you want to work for, fire off on-spec applications, tailored individually to each firm, together with your CV. Keep your letter succinct and try to show real focus in wanting to work for that particular organisation.
Many firms keep files of such letters to help with recruiting, referring back to them for posts as they arise. You may not hear anything for many months, but something may turn up out of the blue.
It also pays to keep in contact with firms you’ve written to, updating them on your most recent experience and skills.

Power of research
Use the internet to thoroughly research your target firm, using not just the company’s own website but also any blogs, discussion groups or newspaper and trade journal archives. Get a thorough understanding of the organisation, its people, its work, its challenges and its competitors.
You should also identify named contacts within the firm, as well as their responsibilities, so you can contact them directly. While you’re looking at a firm’s website, make sure you check out its vacancies page. Some organisations send out e-mail vacancy lists for graduates, so sign up if possible.

Network, network, network
All successful business people network some degree or other – and you should be no different. Try to get to know what job opportunities your friends, family and acquaintances can help with – it’s amazing what you can find when you start digging.
If you want to work for a particular firm, try to get to know some of its managers and staff and talk to them about the work and how to go about getting a job there. You’ll be surprised how positively many will respond.
Also make sure you go along to trade exhibitions and any presentations, roadshows or talks an organisation may hold – they’re all a great way to make new contacts. However you do it, stay in touch with people that you meet and above all be friendly – you never know when contact will prove useful.
The internet can also be a great networking tool – try searching for discussion groups or forums in your industry field and take part in the online chat. Even if you have to say ‘I’m new – can anyone help me?’, you’ll soon pick up lots of new contacts.

Work experience and internships
Even if a firm doesn’t have a job for you right away, they may well take you on an internship or unpaid work experience. Many businesses jump at the chance of free labour – and once you’re inside an organisation it’s up to you to prove that you deserve a full-time job there.
Be willing to do anything – such as making the tea and photocopying – but also volunteer for more demanding duties to showcase your talents. Build a reputation of doing whatever is asked of you.
Visit www.work-placement.co.uk for more about the two National Work Placement Exhibitions this year.

Graduate careers fairs
There’s no better place than a careers fair to get scores of recruiters in one place at the same time. You can quickly and easily visit any employer you’re interested in and find out what the work is like and what jobs are available.
Some firms will even do most of their recruiting at fairs, rather than advertising vacancies, so the opportunities are great. Make sure you take along some CVs and dress smartly. Also keep any business cards you get safely and follow up on your contacts with phone calls and e-mails.
Visit www.gradjobs.co.uk for more careers fair information.

Recruitment agencies
It’s worth getting to know recruitment specialists and agencies in your chosen field – many will hear about jobs long before they’re advertised and will look to place hand-picked candidates.
Register with them and try to arrange a face-to-face meeting - do your best to impress as these people are the crucial link between you and an employer. Once they know what you’re after, and what where your skills and qualifications lie, they can help find the employer that best suits.

Cold calling
It’s not easy to do, but cold-calling potential employers can reap big dividends. Simply ring up a manager and ask what jobs they might have available now or in the future.
Using the telephone is a highly underestimated form of communication – often much better than writing or e-mailing - because you can ask questions and hear the tone of the response. You can use the phone to your advantage to win potential employers over with your charm, knowledge and professional manner.
You may get short-shrift, especially if your contact is busy or on a deadline, if so simply ask them for a good time to call back.

Ideas, suggestions and leads
Any firm worth its salt will welcome fresh ideas and new ways of doing things. It may be a cost-saving measure that no one has thought of, an ingenious invention or a lead on a new contract, but your input could land you a job.
Even if the organisation doesn’t want your idea, it may well see the value in someone who’s gone beyond the norm in terms of enthusiasm, ability and commitment and look at you for a position.

Internal promotion
Another way of getting the job you want is to take a lower position at a firm and work your way up. This could mean starting out as an admin assistant or temp, with lower pay and responsibilities, and then proving your worth and ability to do better things to the management.
However, you’ll not only have to be good at your own job, but also work extra hard to be good at everyone else’s as well if you’re going to get noticed and promoted. The biggest danger is that you can get stuck in the same lowly position for years

Companies Recruiting