TARGETING A COMPANY

As we look at techniques of finding job leads you may want to take a look at how you can target a company where you might want to work. Many job seekers do this successfully and it is an additional technique you may want to consider.

You begin by selecting the companies to target. There are several ways to do this:

a. What companies use my skill set? Business directories; Manufacturer's directories; Yellow pages; searching websites through Yahoo or Google or by soliciting company names from peers and networking group members will enable you to focus on companies to target.

b. Employed friends and former co-workers are also sources

c. Career fairs: professional and trade organizations; family members; coffee clubs: career websites such as career builder, monster.com

d. Using the www.Linkedin website can put you in touch with persons who also can recommend companies that use your skills

MAKE A LIST OF TEN COMPANIES YOU WANT TO TARGET

a. Gather information about each by visiting company websites; personal visits to pick up company literature; talk with persons employed there; make phone calls to the company to get answers you need from telephone secretaries and gatekeepers.

b. OTHER INFORMATION GIVING AGENCIES INCLUDE:

*Colorado Job Bank www.ajb.org/co (also has state wide job listings)

*Area Libraries (Boulder, louisville, lafayette, BroomfieldL)

*America's job bank www.ajb.dnLus (posts thousand of jobs nationwide)

*Denver's Office of Economic development www.milehigh.com/employment (supports workforce center programs and posts advice and resources for job hunters)

WHAT DO I DO NOW THAT I HAVE A LIST OF TARGET COMPANIES?

TRY THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

List the 5 - 10 companies you plan to target on the below form.

Fill in as much of the information as you can by meeting persons who work at the company through visits to nearby cafes, coffee shops etc.

a. Find names of persons in the department where you would like to work.

b. Get the name of the department head and the hiring manager (may be the same).

c. Go for an informational interview with someone in the department (ask for advice on your job search by taking a resume, also try to leave one).

d. Get on the company web and learn all you can about the company.

e. Check with the Better Business Bureau to learn about complaints and with Dunn & Bradstreet for a financial report.

f. Search articles written by persons in the company.

g. Try to learn of problems or difficulties the company may be experiencing and could you solve some of them.

h. Get a copy of the company's annual report or 10K report on the company web site.

i. See if there is a company newsletter in the outer office when you make a visit.

j. Check the company website for up to date information

k. Find who the company's competitors are to see if this lends some information and these competitor's just may also become target companies

l. Talk with peers and former co-workers to see what they know and who they may know in the target company. Look for job openings on the company website or ones that you may learn of from employees you meet in nearby coffee shops.

INFORMATION YOU NEED TO COLLECT ABOUT THE COMPANY

* The company's financial standing.

* Size of the company and does it have branches in other cities and states?

* Standing with the Better Business Bureau -- and how is it viewed by customers.

* Is the company respected in it's industry?

* How is the company’s growth pattern?

* Product or service information - what is the principal business(s)?

* Number of years in business.

* Who are the company's competitors?

* Is the company in any serious litigation?

* Who are the administrators/executives and hiring managers?

* Is the company a target for a takeover?

NOW THAT YOU HAVE GATHERED THIS INFORMATION - Do you believe that this is a company where you would want to work?

COMPANY ADDRESS TELEPHONE E-MAIL Pertinent Information

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