Jobs

I’ve been told to target specific companies in my job search. Is this a worthwhile approach?

Elaine Varelas explains how targeting specific companies during your job search can be a strategic approach for several reasons.

Ask the Job Doc. Boston.com

By Elaine Varelas

Q.  People have told me to use a strategy of targeting specific companies during my job search, even if they don’t have any posted roles. Why should I do that? Shouldn’t I just look for open posted roles and apply?

A. Open roles are certainly the easiest to apply for, which is why hundreds if not thousands of people apply for those openings. If you’re not targeting specific companies, what you are missing out on are opportunities when companies act quickly when they meet the right candidate. If you use a strategy of targeting specific companies, they may see something in your background that says, “You have exactly the skills set we need to add, and you have a few unique areas that we like too.” Or they might say, “We just got notice today that someone in this area has given their notice to leave.” You might find a great job opportunity by way of the hidden job market.  If you don’t have named companies, you also make it much harder for your network to understand the specific companies you’d like to work for, and companies they may know of that are like these firms that you don’t even know exist.

If you can compare open jobs to real estate, you’re meeting with a homeowner before they’ve put their home on the market and everyone else is getting into line to make that purchase. Your goal is to connect with organizations and people where your background and experience is valued, where you’d like to work, and/or where you’re likely to be a good cultural fit. You then want to follow these organizations as part of your targeted job search strategy.

Meeting and networking with alumni or current employees of your targeted organizations, writing to managers within those companies to ask about their strategic approach or a new product that you’re excited about using will help you stand out. Being a unique candidate with a singular approach will help you let this company know that you are interested in working there and will propel you to the top of their potential candidate list.

The more you can stay out of the pile of applicants and stand alone, the more memorable you’ll be, and using a targeted strategy is absolutely the most effective singular way to become visible to hiring managers. Even when working with a search firm or a placement agency, if you can provide them with a list of the companies that you’re most interested in, you’ve given them a greater sense of direction to follow for you.

Create a list of dream companies you would love to work for and then follow these companies on LinkedIn. Many organizations will post jobs in their LinkedIn feed and that is a great way to learn of job opportunities and act quickly. And if there is a job opportunity that you apply to, they’ll be able to see that you are already following them. If it’s a large company that has separate divisional area recruiters, consider trying to connect with multiple recruiter(s) on LinkedIn, sharing your past work experience, and letting them know you would love to learn about new job opportunities at the company. You should also set up Google alerts to follow multiple companies and leaders of the organization.

When a job opportunity does come up within an organization that you are targeting, you will be well prepared to create a more impactful cover letter and resume that aligns with the company’s mission, culture, and needs. Maximize technology in the job search. It can’t interview for you, but it can be a great PR tool for you in the industry you want to join. Add this method to a strong networking strategy and you’ll enhance your chance of landing a great job instead of just applying to open jobs.