Many job seekers spend a lot of time chasing individual jobs. They find an opening online, send in their resume, and follow-up if they don’t get a quick response. Essentially, the candidate is always lagging behind in this approach, striving to catch up to the employer.
While that approach can work, it’s often tiresome and frustrating. Luckily, there is another way to go: targeting companies. Not only may it be easier to get a position at a company you consider to be an employer of choice, but it can also help you land unadvertised opportunities. If you want to target companies for a new job instead of chasing openings, here’s what you need to do.
First and foremost, you need to determine what companies you’ll want to target. Identify businesses that operate in your ideal location, preferred industry, or any initial qualifier. Next, examine them closely. See if they look like a great culture fit and whether they hire people into roles that you could handle.
Then, refine your list. Your goal is to create a group that consists of organizations that you see as employers of choice. At that point, you can begin your pursuit.
In many cases, an employee referral or direct connection to a hiring manager is the easiest way to land a role, particularly unadvertised positions. If you don’t have existing relationships with employees at your target companies, then now is the time to build them.
Examine your network and look for second-degree connections. Look for alumni resources that can get you in contact with other graduates who work at those companies. Attend networking events to meet people who work for those businesses. Reach out to recruiters for those organizations and initiate a conversation. Contact current employees who work in your preferred department and ask for an informational interview.
Your goal isn’t to secure a referral immediately. Instead, you need to cultivate these relationships. After making an initial connection, you need to develop a rapport. Exchange pleasantries, get to know the contact, see if you can offer them assistance or support in some area, and otherwise work to build a meaningful relationship. If you do, you are essentially getting your foot in the door.
Once the relationships are strong, you can tap those connections. While you might not want to blatantly ask for a referral, you can still plant that seed by letting your new network members know about your desire to find a new position.
You can tell them that you are impressed by their employer, and are interested in opportunities there or companies that are similar. Requesting that they let you know if they find out about a position is almost always appropriate at this juncture. In many cases, if you have a solid relationship, they may offer to refer you when something comes along without you explicitly having to ask.
In the interim, make sure to keep elevating the relationship. Continue to provide that connection with value and remain in contact regularly. That way, they’ll be inclined to help when a vacancy at their company available.
If you’d like to learn more about targeting companies, the staff at TRC Staffing Services can help. Contact us to speak with one of our talented recruiters today and see how our job search expertise can benefit you.