As we all know, applying for a job through an online or public job posting can be extremely competitive. However, a recent Mediabistro article offers strategies to help you find out about a position before everyone else does.

1.       Contact companies directly.

Create a list of companies that you would want to work for and use social media to find out names and contact information for the individuals you want to target, particularly those in charge of recruitment or talent acquisition.

2.       Engage in online chats.

After making sure your social media profile is up to par, engage in Twitter chats, using hashtags such as #careerchat or #jobhuntchat.

3.       See who is viewing your profile.

Quickly after noticing that someone has viewed your LinkedIn profile, reach out and ask if he/she needs additional information.  

4.       Target your networking.

Market yourself to the people who need your services. Think about whom you can connect with who can eventually refer you to their clients or other companies in the field.  

5.       Ask for referrals.

Join networks and stay up to date on competitors. Ask others if they know anyone who is in your field of interest and if they can provide a referral.

Click here for the full Mediabistro article.

For more networking and job-search tips, visit Cancer and Careers’ Guide to LinkedIn and our Job Search Tools page, which includes a downloadable Networking Tracker and more.