Did you know that a majority of jobs in Jamaica and the world over are never advertised? These positions are filled through word of mouth or networking. This is called the hidden job market. Depending on the level of the job you are seeking the likelihood of it being advertised varies. The farther along the line you seek your job; the less likely it is that it will be advertised.

Armed with this knowledge it is advisable that you go out and start networking today. This means that you will need to develop a broad list of (preferably) professional contacts, such as those you meet at business and social functions. You will then be using these persons to your advantage when you are on your job hunt. The persons who are located in your network are valuable resources which can lead to you getting job leads and information about a company/industry and even introduce you to other professionals whereby increasing your network.

You don’t have to go far to begin developing your network. Just talking with current friends and family, your neighbors’ and co-workers, industry colleagues and former co-workers and even teachers can help you to improve your network.

There are a couple things you will need to successfully network in order to make it work for you. Get organized and stay in contact with your contacts through regular phone calls, emails and even holiday greetings.

While networking you should also ensure that you still have a very strong resume, as in the end this is still an important part of your search.

If you want to get more information about an occupation or an industry, the best way to do so is to ask someone who is in the industry, or occupation and to build a network of contacts in your career path of choice. You can do some informational interviews, to find out more about the industry, not necessarily with the intention of getting a job through this interview.

Whatever else you do you should ensure that you not only develop and communicate with your network, but to also follow up with them. Keep them informed and updated as it relates to your status and thank them for all their efforts.