Expand and leverage your connections

Some jobs are filled without being advertised through word-of-mouth or referrals. This is commonly referred to as the 'hidden job market.' Learn how you can leverage your connections to access this market.

Networking

In the context of job hunting, networking simply means speaking to other people and building relationships. Through these conversations and relationships, you'll hear about opportunities before they get advertised or find out important information that might help your job search.

For more information about networking, view our Networking page.

Researching

You do not need a contact or a job advertisement to introduce yourself to an organisation, instead you could do some research to identify possible targets and 'cold call' them. Your research may include:

  • Search online to find lists of employers in specific fields
  • Look at the websites of professional organisations for their member list
  • CareerHub - view a list of organisations that have advertised roles to Macquarie students in the past (click on Browse Organisations)
  • Read industry publications
  • Attend informational interviews

Approaching employers

Informational interviews

A good way to find out about what it is like to work in a particular field is to interview someone working in a role you aspire to work in.

An information interview is a short meeting (maximum 15 minutes) with a person in a job, industry or organisation you are interested in. Here you can ask questions and gather helpful information, advice and more contacts by asking about the career knowledge of the other person.

The purpose of the interview is to seek information, not ask for a job.

Possible areas to cover during the interview include:

  • how that person entered the industry
  • changes the person has experienced since entering the industry
  • what that person likes and does not like about their organisation, industry or role
  • upcoming challenges in the industry
  • current industry trends

Also, consider doing the following:

  • Ask if there is anyone else you could speak to, and if you could mention your interviewee's name when contacting the second person
  • Thank the person for his/her time and send a thank you letter or email

Your approach can be by phone, email or, in some cases, in person. Your method of contact will depend on your confidence, the industry, and the size and culture of the organisation.

Whether you make contact by email or phone, make an initial call to find out who would be the best person to speak to. Before contacting the appropriate person, carefully consider what you want to say and how you want to say it.

Phone contact

While phone conversations can easily take different directions, you can prepare in a few different ways:

  • Prepare and practise your introduction.
  • Mention a particular incident in which you were exposed to the employer, such as saying that you read about them in an article or saw them at a careers fair.
  • Explain why you have contacted that particular organisation and what you have to offer them.
  • Request a time to come in and speak to them further about working in the industry.
  • Consider how you will respond to someone who does not want to speak or has no opportunities available.

Email contact

  • Employers are swamped by emails, so your message really needs to break through the clutter.
  • Write succinctly and try to grab their attention. Don't tell them your life story; instead focus on the details that will make them want to hear more about you.
  • Note that you will follow up the email with a phone call in few days as an email alone can be easily overlooked.

In person - an elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is a positive, truthful, 30-second self-promotion when meeting someone for the first time, for example at an industry event. It seeks to answer the question: "What do you do?"

For example: "My name's Kate Barnes and I've just finished a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Health at Macquarie University. I've been a volunteer telephone counsellor for Lifeline for the last 18 months and plan to work full time in the community sector".

Use your elevator pitch when appropriate. Make sure your words are positive, your tone of voice is enthusiastic and your body language is consistent with your words and tone of voice.