The Hidden Job Market: Strategies for Survival As many recent graduates and prospective graduates begin to prepare for the job market, two important concepts, networking and mentoring, will help them define strategies. Networking and mentoring are the keys to success! They have become at the forefront of the job search process. According to Jobhunt.org, "between 75% and 85% of all jobs are not posted or advertised on the web or in newspapers." These jobs are only known in the "hidden job market". JobHunt.org provides some great examples of how to build a network and maintain it. I learned several important tips that helped me build my own strategy. My push strategy. I like to call this strategy “keeping hope alive.” The first step is to build your image. The type of image you want to build is one that will help people remember you and establish your personality for them. Remember, the first impression is a lasting impression. You need to make sure that your resume speaks for itself (it should please others as well as yourself). How do you know if your resume is interesting? Try this fun activity.1. Create your resume. Use “keywords” and be very careful when it comes to font sizes, formatting and page setup. Keywords should catch the reader's eye (maintained, implemented, elaborated, etc.).2. Make sure you print your resume on a very “stylish” but not “busy” resume sheet.3. Print a fictitious resume. Instead of putting your name at the top of your resume, make up a name. Print this resume.4. Then go to your resume template in Microsoft Word (or on the web) and print several resumes the same way you printed yours. Distribute them all on a table. Do you like your CV?...... half sheet ...... hand out business cards and keep your black book handy. Internships are also very useful. Always treat the internship as an opportunity and not as a job. Even if the goal is to get the job, keep networking. The maintenance strategy. During this strategy, you are putting everything together. You are expanding your horizon. Once you are actually hired, never let your network loosen. Keep your network up-to-date. Call old and new contacts frequently and keep updating your black book. Always have updated resumes and plenty of business cards. Stay in touch with your groups and offer to speak at a function. These three strategies I talked about are based on my personal experiences and opinions. They can be very useful to someone building a network. The process can be very long and frustrating at times, but it can be very rewarding.