Do you have a list of target companies that you’d like to work for? When you attend Careers Springboard webinars you’ll often hear us talk about the hidden job market. One of the most successful ways of job searching is via your network. Many employers don’t advertise jobs. They will ask employees, or their wider network for referrals. It avoids the lengthy and expensive process of open online applications.
So if you need to find a job via your network where do you start? By creating a top 10 list of companies you want to work for, you can target a company, then network your way in. When a position becomes available, or is created you want your connection to think of you.
So how do you create your target list of companies to work for?
Mindmap
Create a mindmap based on your knowledge initially. Who are the leaders within your sector? Which companies did your previous organisation do business with? Ask former colleagues or friends for ideas. Should any of these by in your top 10 list of companies to work for?
Best companies to work for
Organisations who care about their staff often apply for recognition via the Sunday Times ‘Best companies to work for.’ It helps companies benchmark performance against best practice. In addition, it’s good PR, helping to attract the right talent.
100 best:
Glass door also creates a list of the Best Places to Work in the UK, based on employee feedback.
Chambers of Commerce
Chambers of Commerce include a network of businesses committed to improving the local business environment and communities in which they work. If you’re looking for a role within a local business you can find your local Chambers of Commerce via the British Chamber of Commerce. Look at their Members Directory.
Professional associations, or professional bodies
Are you a member of a professional body or association which seeks to further your profession? Which companies are represented? You can find a professional organisation for your sector by searching the government list of approved professional organisations. By becoming a member or attending events you’ll gain access to a network of organisations who are committed to continuous improvement. Some professional bodies also have job boards and provide mentoring.
Social media groups
Join relevant LinkedIn groups or Facebook groups. Who is engaging in these groups and which companies do they work at?
Conferences
Attend conferences related to your sector. As a result of Covid many conferences are being provided virtually at a much lower cost, or for free. Look at who is presenting and which companies delegates come from. Should they have a place in your top 10 target companies?
By attending conferences you also keep your knowledge of your sector updated. This is really useful for interviews. It also provides you with content to post on LinkedIn to promote your personal brand. You can ‘meet’ experts and influencers, form new connections and strengthen existing ones.
Using LinkedIn’s company search function you can find companies within your industry. You can filter this by location, size and whether you have connections there.
Are the target companies a good match?
Research each company on your list. Look at the company values on its website, are they aligned with yours? What are the company and employees sharing on social media platforms? Does it portray the right culture for you? What do employees think of the company? Glassdoor shows: company reviews, CEO approval ratings, salary reports, interview reviews and questions, benefits reviews, office photos and more.
Once you’ve collated your list of target companies you need to build connections. We regularly run webinars on networking and have advice on how to network in our members area.
