How to Build Your Target Companies List Using LinkedIn

How to Build Your Target Companies List Using LinkedIn TweetA proven way to get a great job sooner is to proactively market yourself to a handpicked list of suitable employers a target companies list. Great opportunities will be hiding in that list, waiting to be discovered. Companies may be needing a new team member, and they may not have advertised the opening yet. They may never need to, if they talk to you first! Youll need a long enough list of companies to ensure there will be good jobs opening up in the near future, but not so long a list that its impossible to work with. For many job seekers, a list of 40-50 is about right. How can you compile that list? Heres are two easy methods based on ideas from Steve Dalton, Senior Career Consultant at Dukes Fuqua School of Business and author of The 2-Hour Job Search. Both of these methods involve LinkedIn. First, do a quick search for companies similar to your dream employer. Type the company name into the main search field that appears at the top of every LinkedIn page, and from there youll find their company page. On the company page, in the lower right-hand corner youll see Similar pages. The companies in this list may be good targets for you. You may be able to use a similar technique on other social media and as a Google search. Over time, through internet research and networking conversations, youll prioritize the companies and probably delete some. Dont worry about that yet. First things first: youre brainstorming and gathering possibilities. Side benefit: This similar companies research is also a great way to prepare an answer to the common interview question, Who are our competitors? Did you go to college (even if you didnt graduate)? Great, use the Alumni Method as well. In LinkedIn, click in the main search field, then select people and then All Filters. In Schools type in and/or select your college. In the title field, type in a job title youd like. Click search. This shows you career paths people like you have followed and what companies theyve worked for companies you can add to your list. Side benefit: Youve just discovered some good people to network with, since you have things in common with them including an alma mater and they have connections at companies of interest. Invite them to connect on LinkedIn, for a start. See also, More Easy Ways to Build Your Target Companies List. Now, use your list! Start following, researching, prioritizing and networking your way into the companies on your list. Youll be gathering valuable business intelligence and becoming known to people who can help you land your next job. This approach can lead to a phone call like this: Hey, we talked a while back about that company you want to work for, XYZ Inc. Well, my friend there says theres a position opening up. It isnt posted yet, but I mentioned you and theyre interested in talking to you. How to Build Your Target Companies List Using LinkedIn TweetA proven way to get a great job sooner is to proactively market yourself to a handpicked list of suitable employers a target companies list. Great opportunities will be hiding in that list, waiting to be discovered. Companies may be needing a new team member, and they may not have advertised the opening yet. They may never need to, if they talk to you first! Youll need a long enough list of companies to ensure there will be good jobs opening up in the near future, but not so long a list that its impossible to work with. For many job seekers, a list of 40-50 is about right. How can you compile that list? Heres are two easy methods based on ideas from Steve Dalton, Senior Career Consultant at Dukes Fuqua School of Business and author of The 2-Hour Job Search. Both of these methods involve LinkedIn. First, do a quick search for companies similar to your dream employer. Type the company name into the main search field that appears at the top of every LinkedIn page, and from there youll find their company page. On the company page, in the lower right-hand corner youll see Similar pages. The companies in this list may be good targets for you. You may be able to use a similar technique on other social media and as a Google search. Over time, through internet research and networking conversations, youll prioritize the companies and probably delete some. Dont worry about that yet. First things first: youre brainstorming and gathering possibilities. Side benefit: This similar companies research is also a great way to prepare an answer to the common interview question, Who are our competitors? Did you go to college (even if you didnt graduate)? Great, use the Alumni Method as well. In LinkedIn, click in the main search field, then select people and then All Filters. In Schools type in and/or select your college. In the title field, type in a job title youd like. Click search. This shows you career paths people like you have followed and what companies theyve worked for companies you can add to your list. Side benefit: Youve just discovered some good people to network with, since you have things in common with them including an alma mater and they have connections at companies of interest. Invite them to connect on LinkedIn, for a start. See also, More Easy Ways to Build Your Target Companies List. Now, use your list! Start following, researching, prioritizing and networking your way into the companies on your list. Youll be gathering valuable business intelligence and becoming known to people who can help you land your next job. This approach can lead to a phone call like this: Hey, we talked a while back about that company you want to work for, XYZ Inc. Well, my friend there says theres a position opening up. It isnt posted yet, but I mentioned you and theyre interested in talking to you.