The Visible Job Market

The visible job market is where positions are posted for everyone to see. Since they are visible, competition for these positions is high which reduces the chances that your resume will get noticed. Since this is the case, we recommend that you do not rely on these resources to find your next job but use them in addition to networking. The key is to use the visible job market to find the leads and then to you use your network to actually apply.

Job Boards

Most companies post their job announcements online. The most common places to find job postings are on company websites, job boards, and social media. You can use any combination of these to target positions and find potential openings.

Click on the image below to view the NOVAworks Job Connector.

Here is a list of a few additional job boards.

Agencies / Recruiters (Headhunters)

Another strategy for finding employment is to register with temporary agencies or local recruiting firms.

  • Remember that agencies, recruiters and headhunters work for companies, not for job seekers. That is, if you happen to match a profile, which the hiring company is seeking, you will be contacted. The majority of your job search remains yours.
  • Work to build rapport with a recruiter. The more they get to know you, the better they can sell your skills and qualifications to an employer.
  • Recruiters / headhunters can provide information on the status of an industry, company information, hiring manager expectations and ways to present your skills and experience to meet the needs of employers.
  • Do not give a recruiter permission to blast your resume to employers.
  • Do not pay an agency, recruiter, or headhunter. All fees should be paid for by the employer and should not impact your salary.
  • Here is a list of local temporary agencies

Job Fairs

Job fairs provide you with an opportunity to introduce yourself to a company recruiter or hiring manager and learn more about the company's needs and current openings. The key to making a job fair successful is to prepare ahead of time.

  • Find out which companies are going to attend, visit their company websites and see what positions they have available. Target a cover letter and resume to fulfill their needs.
  • Be prepared for a mini-interview. Don't try to tell each company all about yourself (there won't be time), rather use a summary statement to state your qualifications for the job.
  • Always ask for peoples' business cards so that you can follow up.

Here are links for local job fairs: