Research Your Target List – The Targeted Job Search

Research your target list.

This is the third in the series on the Targeted Job Search.

If you have not already read the previous posts, please do that now:

• Target the Company and Quit Chasing the Job


• Building your Target List – The Targeted Job Search

Step #2 in this process is to properly research the companies on your radar. Your goal is to find out if the company is somewhere you would want to work.

Start with some basic research:

• Check out each company’s website from your target list. Particularly, check out the press release section. Here, you will find press releases for financials, if it is a public company. If it is a start-up company, you will want to look for press releases for funding announcements.


• Check out all of the companies on your target list on Glassdoor. You will want to take the reviews on Glassdoor with a grain of salt. Read this latest article on Recruiter.com titled “Should Employers Fear Glassdoor Reviews.”

Connect on LinkedIn with current employees

You will want to locate employees by either certification or job title from your target list. The process I have had clients follow is the following:

• Go to LinkedIn Advanced Search


• Enter the certification letters (PMI or SPHR or CCNA, etc.) in the Last Name field or your job title in the Title field.


• Enter the company name in the Company field and select current from the drop down menu


• Enter your zip code into the Postal Code field


• Click on Search

Using LinkedIn, locate people in the company who you are either already connected to or who you are a 2nd degree connection with. You will want to ask your connection how well they know the individual and whether they would be willing to make an introduction. You are looking for an introduction.

You may have to approach multiple connections for multiple individuals. Be persistent.

Once you have an introduction, schedule a phone call to plan to meet for coffee or lunch in order to ask them for AIR – Advice, Insights and Recommendations!

You are not looking for a job. You want to find out whether they like working there. What are the good and bad points about working there? Lastly, you want to ask them – who should I talk to next or who can you introduce me to learn more?

Connect with them on LinkedIn.

Connect on LinkedIn with past employees

Follow the same process but in the drop down menu for company select Past not Current!

You will want to ask these past employees why they left the company.

You may get a different view of the company!

Connect with these individuals on LinkedIn.

If you approach these individuals asking for advice rather than asking for a job, most of them will be receptive.

When did you turn anyone down when someone asked you for advice?

Next week I will be writing about connecting with recruiters.

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