What is the Hidden Job Market?
Let me give you a peek behind the HR curtain. By the time a job is posted on Twitter, LinkedIn, or a job board, the company has likely already exhausted its internal network. We ask employees for referrals, we check our database of previous strong applicants, and we reach out to people we know.
The “hidden job market” consists of all these roles that are filled before the public even knows they exist. In Nigeria, tapping into this market is the difference between a frustrating 2-year job hunt and landing a role in 3 months.
How to Access Unadvertised Jobs
1. Send Targeted Cold Emails Identify companies you want to work for. Find the hiring manager or department head (not just HR) on LinkedIn. Find their email address using tools like Hunter.io, and send a concise value proposition. Tell them what you admire about their work and how your specific skills can solve a problem they likely have.
2. Follow the Money (Funding News) When a Nigerian startup raises funding (keep an eye on TechCabal or Benjamin Dada), they are going to hire. They just haven’t written the job descriptions yet. Reach out to the founders immediately. Say, “Congratulations on the Series A! I know scaling your engineering team will be a priority now. Here is how I can help…”
3. Build Relationships with Recruiters Recruitment agencies (like Phillips Consulting, Michael Page, etc.) hold the keys to the hidden market. Send your CV to agency recruiters and build a relationship with them. When a client gives them a brief, they will call you before they ever post the ad online.
Stop Waiting for Permission
The standard job application process is passive. You wait for an ad, you apply, you wait for a call. Tapping into the hidden job market requires you to be proactive. Put yourself out there, pitch your value, and create your own opportunities. That is the true hustle.