The target job search

Tired of scanning employment ads? Take a proactive role in your job search! It's easy to identify potential employers meeting your professional standards and personal style. Target lists can be culled by company location, size, and line of business. Company research enables you to confirm fit and define approach. Networking gets your foot in the door. Considering a career change or relocation? Information interviews are the ticket to success.

What is a target job search?
How can I identify potential employers?
Which ones to pursue?
Who's the hiring manager?
What if I'm considering a career change?

What is a target job search?

A target job search is where you determine which companies to pursue for employment. These companies may, or may not, have current openings in your designated field. A carefully crafted cover letter, stating how your expertise benefits the company, will get attention. You may be pleasantly surprised by a manager with an anticipated opening or a referral to a colleague.

How can I identify potential employers?

A workable target list should consist of no more than 50-75 companies. Use these sources to identify your market:

Largest companies...these are easy to find by employment, financials, location, and industry. Ward's Business Directory, New Jersey Business Book of Lists, Fortune

Medium-small sized companies...Dun's Million Dollar Database & Reference USA enable you to target lists by company size (sales/employees) and cross with location (state, MSA, area code) and industry (SIC/yellow page heading).
"Best companies"...these lists are published in various magazines: Best Companies for Working Mothers (Working Mother); Best Small Companies in America (Forbes); Inc. 500: fastest growing private companies (Inc.), Best managed companies (Forbes).
Government filings...SEC documents (new public companies), patents (identify companies engaged in a specfic field of R & D), government contracts (hiring for new projects)
News...industry leaders dominate headlines in magazines/newspapers/trade journals/listservs. Access some databases from home.

If your initial list is 100+, narrow your search by adding criteria or limiting geography.

Which ones to pursue?

Create your "A" list based on personal experience, professional connections, and company information. About company research:

Products & services...what exactly does this company do? where does it excel?
[company Web, industry directories and trade journals add details]

History & structure...corporate "family tree," mergers, acquisitions & divestitures
[LexisNexis Corporate Affiliations, International Directory of Company Histories]

Competitive intelligence...industry overview, investment reports, rankings & ratios
[Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys, Business and Company Resource Center (database)]

Financial situation...assessing current stability and projected growth. Research the company as you would any other important investment.
[Valueline, Standard & Poor's Net Advantage, Mergent Manuals]

News...use what you find to determine fit and prepare your pitch
[Several excellent article databases are available from home. Many others are available at the library]
Bio notes...who's running the company? age, education, affiliations, accolades
[Who's Who, newspaper/magazines, Google the person !]

Who's the hiring manager?

Networking...do you (or anyone you know) know anyone employed by the company or its divisions?
Company Webs...go straight to the source. Top managers are often listed. Middle managers are harder to find. Check the company's press releases for management changes.
News...management changes are often published in papers/trade journals. You can also run the company name with the department; sometimes you find people quoted.
Company/industry-sprecific directories...management lists vary according to source. All print sources(& most online databases) are out of date. Use the names you find as a starting point. Check with the company to see if that person is still employed in that position. If you cannot verify, it's okay to send to person listed in the book/database. Presumably the mail routes to the current manager.

What if I'm considering a career change?

Information interviewing is the key to transition. An information interview is not a job interview. It is a fact-finding exchange with an experienced manager in your target field or location. This exchange enables you to plan an effective course of action. Many professionals are willing to share their expertise with you. Timing is everything. Have your questions ready and respect the schedule of the busy manager. IIs can be conducted in person, on the phone, or with IMs. Recommended reading: Information Interviewing/Stoodley. As with any other interview, always thank the manager with a note. Handwritten is preferable.

Morris County Library
30 E. Hanover Ave., Whippany, NJ 07981
Need directions?
973-285-6969
mocolib1@gti.net

Mon.-Thurs., 9am-9pm, Fri. & Sat., 9am-5pm, Sundays, 1pm-5pm (Sepember-April)

About this site
This is one of four Career Resource Seminars developed for job seekers in New Jersey. If you have questions regarding the content of this class or would like assistance finding your local resources, contact Lynne Olver (973)285-6969.
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