The job market has changed significantly over the past 10-15 years. Lifetime jobs are being eliminated and companies are more production and project-oriented. Job security is now based on one's ability to find their next assignment rather than who they work for or tenure. We must think of ourselves as self-employed and responsible for managing our own careers. Most job openings are filled through referrals rather than public postings. Developing strong networks and maintaining a self-employed mindset are keys to navigating today's hidden job market.

1. TODAY’S JOB MARKET

2. Presented by:
Joel Reinert
Business Liaison
Missouri Career Center – St. Louis Co.
Work: 314/416-2917
Email: jmreinert@stlcc.edu

3. FIRST CRITICAL POINT
Today’s job market has changed
SIGNIFICANTLY
Over the past 10-15 years
years.

4. TODAY’S JOB MARKET
• “LIFETIME JOBS” BEING ELIMINATED.
COMPANIES ARE MORE PRODUCTION
AND PROJECT-ORIENTED
• GLOBALIZATION ADDS COMPETITION
TO JOB MARKET
• TECHNOLOGY IS ELIMINATING MANY
JOBS
• PACE OF CHANGE IS FASTER
• OUTSOURCING & RESTRUCTURING

5. SECOND CRITICAL POINT
Job S
J b Security
it
•Is no longer based on who you work
for or how long you’ve worked.
•Is now determined by your ability to
find your next assignment
assignment.

6. MAJOR PARADIGM SHIFT
WE ARE ALL SELF-EMPLOYED
SELF EMPLOYED
WRT managing y
g g your j search,
job ,
you MUST start thinking and acting like
you are self-employed
self employed
(i.e. a small business)

7. THIRD CRITICAL POINT
60% - 80% of all job openings are
filled through a referral process.
fill d th h f l
The Hidden J b M k t
Th Hidd Job Market
Those job openings that are not
j p g
advertised to the public.

8. HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME?
TO GET HIRED
•It s
•It’s not always what you know, but
know
who you know.
•A big factor is being in the right
place at the right time with the right
package.

9. HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME?
MOST IMPORTANTLY!
Traditional job search strategies
j g
ARE NOT EFFECTIVE
for tapping into this job market
market.

10. EMPLOYED VS. SELF-EMPLOYED
EMPLOYED ATTITUDE
• HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO COMPANY
MEANS JOB SECURITY
• MY COMPANY KNOWS WHAT’S BEST FOR ME
AND WILL LOOK OUT FOR ME
• I DO MY JOB WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT
• I CAN REST ON MY PAST PERFORMANCE AND
EASE INTO RETIREMENT

11. EMPLOYED VS. SELF-EMPLOYED
SELF-EMPLOYED
SELF EMPLOYED ATTITUDE
• THINK & ACT LIKE A SMALL BUSINESS
• NO JOB IS PERMANENT
• COMPANY DOES NOT OWE YOU A JOB
• YOU DON’T OWE COMPANY YOUR LIFE
DON T
• ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEXT OPPORTUNITY
• COMPANY DOESN’T OWN YOU
• BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP/PARTNERSHIP
• YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING YOUR
OWN CAREER

12. EMPLOYED VS. SELF-EMPLOYED
SELF-EMPLOYED ATTITUDE
• I HAVE A PRODUCT OF VALUE TO MY
CUSTOMERS
• I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY OWN CAREER
DEVELOPMENT
• I HAVE A CAREER PLAN
• I AM CONTINUALLY SEEKING TO GROW
• I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT MY WORK
• NETWORKING IS CRITICAL

13. THE JOB SEARCH
THE JOB SEARCH
IS A
MARKETING & SALES
PROCESS

14. YOUR PRODUCT
WHAT IS YOUR “PRODUCT”?
• SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
• NATURAL ABILITIES
• EDUCATION
• PERSONALITY & PASSIONS
• IMAGE & REPUTATION (BRAND NAME)

15. YOUR CUSTOMERS
TARGET MARKET
COMPANIES/ORGANIZATIONS
YOU WILL BE FOCUSING YOUR
JO SEARCH PROCESS O
JOB S C OC SS ON

16. YOUR CUSTOMERS
KNOW WHO YOUR
CUSTOMERS ARE
• THE HIRING MANAGERS
• THE DECISION-MAKERS

17. DEVELOP A PLAN
MARKETING PLAN
YOUR ROADMAP
• JOB SEARCH GOAL/OBJECTIVES
• TARGET MARKET
• JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES
• FEEDBACK & EVALUATION
PROCESS

18. YOUR SUPPORT TEAM
Don’t try to
D ’t t t go it alone!
l !
• FRIENDS & FAMILY
• SMALL GROUP
• CAREER COACH
• MENTOR
• NETWORK OF CONTACTS

19. KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL JOB SEARCH
•KNOW YOUR PRODUCT
•BE CUSTOMER FOCUSED
•DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF FROM YOUR
COMPETITION
•DEVELOP A MARKETING & SALES PLAN
•NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK!
•MAINTAIN A HEALTHY ATTITUDE

20. ATTITUDE
“IF YOU THINK YOU CAN
OR
IF YOU THINK YOU CAN T,
CAN’T
EITHER WAY,
YOU ARE RIGHT!”
-Henry Ford
Henry