An essential part of your job search strategy is to create a list of companies you would like to for. Why? Well for starters, if you don’t know the first thing about a company, its culture or environment, how do you know you would want to work there? A big mistake job seekers typically make is to send their resumes to any company advertising a position, irrespective if they would be a good match based on the organization’s mission or goals. In every single placement I have made with a company, a substantial portion of the decision on whether or not to present a candidate is based on the personality match with the company environment. There are many otherwise stellar candidates that have not been presented because they would not fit that culture. But that’s okay, because there are many other organizations where they do end up as a great match, and thrive.
Choose companies in your industry or field of expertise that interest you. The resources available to research companies are almost endless. Back in the “old days,” the only resource it seemed was to head to the local library and dig through magazines, books and brochures. Now of course it’s as easy as accessing the internet on your laptop, PC, ipad or phone.
One of my favorites is through Fortune magazine. Not only can you research the Fortune 500, but also the 100 best companies to work for, blue ribbon companies, most admired companies, best small companies, and many more. This will keep you busy for a while, but it will be well worth it.
Another great method is to search LinkedIn's “Companies” section. You can find company information searching by keyword or by browsing industry information. You'll also be able see your own connections to employees at the company, as well as new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics. A more comprehensive post I made can be found here.
GlassDoor.com is a site that offers company reviews, ratings, salaries, CEO approval rating, competitors, content providers, and more company information.
Professional associations typically have lists of member companies. Weddles is a great tool as it is a directory of associations listed by industry. It can be used to find member companies at associations in your career field and/or industry.
For smaller companies in your area, simply use some key words in a Google search, or browse your local Chamber of Commerce’s website to see if there is a directory of local companies.. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a directory you can search to find your local Chamber of Commerce.
An additional way I have fond useful to search for companies is through the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website here.
If you Google “companies search,” or something to that effect, you will most certainly be assured to find a plethora of pay sites that claim to be able to find just about anything or anyone inside a company. While I am not disparaging the ability for many of these site to do so, I just think it’s a waste to pay for something you can find for free several other places on the web. I have never used a pay site, primarily because I have never had to.
Once you have done your homework, and put together a list of target companies, the next step is to search for open positions and make connections within the organizations if possible. Connecting (networking) is particularly important for knowledge of inside opportunities in the “hidden” job market. The hope of course is to get a chance to interview, as well as gain a reference from the inside.
Visit the company web site to review open positions. Most companies have an employment section with current job openings, and you may be able to apply directly online. Also, search the other job search engines by company name to find additional job postings. The job search engine LinkUp searches only company sites, so it's a tremendous tool for finding jobs with specific companies.
More importantly though, locate and network with contacts at the company who can help you get a foot in the door. LinkedIn Companies, Facebook Groups and Twellow are all great ways to do so using social media. Some additional tips in a post I made not too long ago can be found here.
One last and highly effective way to make contact is through your career services office or alumni office. Ask them if there is a database of alumni you can get in touch with. Most college and universities have alumni who have willingly volunteered to help newer alumni with career networking. There are also alumni groups you can check out and join, even in cities or states outside of the location of the school where you graduated. When I lived in Las Vegas, sports bars all over the city were packed with various alumni groups from schools across the country every Saturday during football season. These opportunities are a great way to connect in person, and extremely valuable if someone happens to work at one of your target companies.
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