How to Identify Target Companies for Job Search

The best piece of advice I was given about networking: Don't give people your resume. Do this instead! When I was 38, a former colleague gave me an unforgettable piece of advice. I was starting to look for a new job after being laid off. I'd been running myself ragged trying to meet people who could help me. But, like most beginners, I was making a lot of mistakes: • Applying online for jobs and never hearing back • Going to useless networking events, and • Cold calling the wrong people, Until one day, my colleague said to me: "𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖 𝙏𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙩." That day, my whole approach to networking changed. A Target Company List (TCL) is a list of companies you are interested in learning more about. These are companies where you might want to work. It’s: • A physical, formal list. It doesn’t live “in your head” • Formatted like a resume. You could hand it to someone. • Not laminated. You can make adds and changes to it as you get feedback You create this list by thinking of the type of companies where you want to work. Ask yourself: • Which industry do I want to be in? • What size company do I want to work at? • Which companies have values that align with mine? • Which companies have job postings I’ve applied to? • Which companies are on “Best Places To Work For” lists? Once you create your professionally formatted list, you start giving it to people during networking meetings. Either hand them a physical, paper copy or send it via email. When I got this advice from my colleague, I didn’t understand why the TCL would work, but as I used it over the years, I’ve come to understand why it’s an effective networking tool. When you're in a networking conversation and the other person says, “How can I help you,” most people give them their resume. This makes you hard to help. Who should the person give your resume to? On the other hand, if you give them your TCL and ask, “Do you know anyone who works at one of these companies,” it’s easy for them to say “Yes” or “No.” If they say “Yes,” they can introduce you to the person via email. Now, you know someone at one of your target companies. If they say “No,” you can ask if there are other companies like the ones on the list where they know someone. If they do, you get and introduction at a company you have never considered. If they still don’t know anyone or any companies, let them take the list home. There’s a good chance they’ll think of someone later. The TCL forces you to get specific about how other people can help you. The more specific you are about how someone can help you, the more likely you are to get help. P.S. - This weekend, I'm sharing another tip on Being Easy To Help in 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧. This is my weekly newsletter where I teach you to be a better networker. Not a subscriber? Sign up for FREE when you hit the link under my headline at the top of the post ☝️

Our client had applied to 500+ jobs. She got zero interviews. We teamed up and 2 months later she scored: - Multiple interviews - An offer from an F100 company - $100,000+ in total comp What changed? She stopped blindly applying online and used this 10 step process: 1/ She Shifted Her Energy After 500 apps and no results? She stopped investing in a system that wasn't working. So she reallocated 100% of her energy towards building relationships. 2/ She Narrowed Her Focus Instead of applying to whatever new jobs were posted that day... She created a specific list of targets. It had 15 companies on it. Now she could deeply invest in that list to understand their goals, challenges, initiatives, etc. 3/ She Researched Like Crazy: - Listened to earnings calls - Tuned into interviews / keynotes with execs - Reviewed financial statements - Read forecasts from analysts - Combed through reviews - Spoke to customers and users - Used the products herself (when possible) 4/ She Identified Angles As she researched, she asked herself 3 questions: 1. Is there a challenge that I can help the company overcome? 2. Is there an opportunity I can help the company capitalize on? 3. Is there an initiative that I can help boost or improve? 5/ She Built A List of Contacts She aimed for 10-15 at each target company. They had to meet 2 of 3 criteria: - Be on the hiring team - Be able to influence her ability to get hired - Be able to provide info on challenges / opps / goals She used LinkedIn to find them. 6/ She Made It About Them Her first email wasn't, "can you refer me in?" She engaged with their content. Complimented their personal blogs. Recognized career changes. If you want 15 minutes of someone's time? Show them you spent 15 minutes to earn it. 7/ She Went Deep On Discovery She used her interactions to learn. She asked contacts about the challenges they faced. The goals they had. The initiatives their team was rolling out. Then she compared that to the angles she'd identified. When one clicked? She doubled down. 8/ She Crafted Her Pitch She turned her angle into a pitch deck. She introduced her major value add on the first slide. Next, she validated it with industry data or customer feedback. Then, she outlined her ideas. Finally, she outlined her background and why she was a fit. 9/ She Sent It To Her Contact "Hey [Name], I've been thinking a lot about our conversation last week. Especially [Challenge / Goal / Initiative]. I put together a deck with some quick ideas for you, attached here. Let me know if you want to chat through it!" 10/ She Asked For The Referral After her contact had seen the deck, she made the ask. If their company had any roles that might be a fit for her skills? She'd appreciate it if they kept her in mind. They usually found something, typically at their company. Not only did they refer her in, they advocated for her through the entire process! That's a winning combo.

One of my all-time favorite expressions is, "the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time," which means when a task feels insurmountable, the key is to break it down and make steady, consistent progress toward the goal. You can apply this wisdom to the job search process. Once your resume is polished, the next steps can feel ambiguous, never-ending, and downright overwhelming. Here's the thing. As a job seeker, you have ONE goal: Land decision-maker conversations. So what exactly is a decision-maker? It’s the person who has the power to say “yes” (or a strong influence on that yes). Depending on the role, that could be a hiring manager, a department head, a senior executive, or even a board member. Recruiters and HR professionals can be valuable allies, but your ultimate goal is to build direct lines of communication with the people who hold hiring authority. How do you get there? Bite by bite. Start by building out a target company list. You need to identify at least 25+ places that could hire your skill set. Take that list and go a step further. -- Who do you know who works at those organizations? -- Who would your exact boss be if you landed a job at one of those companies? Next, focus on the low-hanging fruit: your network. Reconnect with former colleagues, classmates, and mentors. They already know and like you and want to help you! A warm introduction often opens the door to decision-makers faster than a cold application. Be strategic on LinkedIn. Share insights, engage with leaders in your target companies, and position yourself as a peer—not just a job seeker. If you don't have a lot of connections in your industry, focus on adding TEN new connections per day. These can be recruiters in your industry, hiring managers, leaders in your space, etc. Target your outreach. Instead of sending 50 generic messages, I want to challenge you to send FIVE thoughtful messages per day. Just five. The person opening your email needs to feel "special" or at least see that you took the time to personalize an outreach message. Prepare for every conversation. When you do land that call or meeting, focus less on “selling yourself” and more on showing how you can solve their biggest challenges. Remember, landing the job isn’t about applying to the most postings—it’s about creating the right conversations with the right people. And like eating the elephant, it happens one intentional bite at a time.

If you're job hunting, you need a target employer strategy. The truth? Nothing else is working. I wish I had better news for you, but I can't ignore the evidence and you shouldn't either. Without an intentional and targeted approach to employers, your resume will get lost. A targeted employer strategy isn't simple, but it is the best use of your time right now. It will help you: 🎯Increase your chances for an interview 🎯Find a job in a place where you can thrive 🎯ID jobs before they hit job boards (60-70% never do!) 🎯Connect with people inside the company Here's how to make it work. 1️⃣ Make a List of Prospective Employers ↳ Start with companies that you know you are interested in ↳ Add companies where friends & family work ↳ Include companies in your area that are “Top Places to Work” 💡Pro-tip: Try a “drive by” strategy. Visit office parks, take a pic of the lobby directory, and check out the companies online. 2️⃣ Research Each Company ↳ Look at the company website thoroughly to get a gut feel ↳ Check out their press releases and annual reports ↳ Google news about the company 💡Pro-tip: Capture the career page URLs of companies you like in a spreadsheet to create your personalized “job board.” 3️⃣ Make Internal Connections ↳ Use LinkedIn to find near-peers in at each company ↳ Aim to connect with 2-3 people at each company ↳ Email and ask for a chat about how their work 💡Pro-tip: Use hunter[dot]io or other email predictor to find email addresses. 4️⃣ Have Meaningful Conversations ↳ Focus on questions about the role and the company ↳ Be ready to talk about yourself and what you want ↳ Ask who else you should talk to and what other companies you should check out 💡Pro-tip: Do NOT ask anyone to “keep their eyes out,” or ask about openings. 5️⃣ Leverage Relationships ↳ Keep people posted on your progress monthly ↳ When you take their advice, share positive results ↳ Let them know when you see a job of interest and ask if they have any insights 💡Pro-tip: Lather, rinse, repeat, staying in touch with regular updates. When you make a good impression, magic can happen: ↳ You will be top of mind for openings before they are posted. ↳ You will be an early applicant because you are monitoring company career pages, rather than relying only on job boards. ↳ You will be a much more informed candidate based on insights from current employees. Have you used a target employer strategy? What's worked for you? Share in the comments 👇 ♻️ Repost to help job seekers in your network. 🔔 Follow @Sarah Baker Andrus for more job search tips. 📌 Need personal support? DM me and let's chat!

I get a lot of DMs from people looking for jobs. I posted this last week, and I don't think enough people saw it. Here's my advice to ALL job seekers. First, don't apply to a job posting. It doesn't work. You are competing against 100s or 1,000s of other resumes. Being the few resumes that make it through recruiters & AI screeners is a long shot. Here's what I recommend instead: Run your job seeking process like a top 1% sales person. 1. Build a target companies list (aka ICP) Identify 30-50 companies / organizations that fit within your skill set, passion, industry, geography, etc. 2. Identify key people at each company Use Linkedin to find 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level connections, especially decision makers (VPs, Directors, C-level). A note from a CEO to a hiring manager like "Take a look at this person" is a huge leg up. 3. Get cell numbers, personal emails, & work emails Use free trials of tools like ZoomInfo, Apollo, Lusha, Rocketreach, Seamless Ai, Kaspr, Lead IQ, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, etc. Pay for a month if needed. 4. Craft killer cold outreach Write 3-5 cold email, DM, and call scripts. Test them outside of your ICP. Once you find a winner, go HAM on your list. Something like this: "Hey {name}, I'm Matt. I'll help 3x your retention if you give me a chance at this customer success director role. I was one of the first employees at SimpleCitizen (YC W16), which was acquired by Fragomen, the largest immigration law firm in the world. I led Customer Success there—we kept a 4.9+ TrustPilot rating the entire way. Here’s how I’ll drive impact at {company}: • {Tailored point 1} • {Tailored point 2} • {Tailored point 3}" Most won’t reply. But 10–20% will. And when they do, you’ll skip the resume pile entirely. Even recruiters won’t have that kind of pull.

Job seekers- you are spending too much time on job boards. Do this instead: Use the 90/10 rule- you should only be spending 10% of your time scrolling through job boards. Spend 90% of the time on results driven activity. Things like: 👉 Reach out to people in your personal and professional network. Send an email with a few bullet points on your ideal next step and ask if they know of anything or anyone they can connect you with. People want to help people. 👉 Create a target list of companies you think you’d like to work for. Minimum of 25 companies to start. 👉 From there- jump on their website and see if there are any openings that are of interest. If there is, go ahead and apply but do not leave your fate to an ATS where your resume probably won’t see the light of day. Skip the next step and go to the following. 👉 It’s not super likely they will have something perfect posted so move to the next step… 👉 Next hop on LinkedIn and search for functional line leaders in those orgs. Connect with them AND send them an email expressing your interest in the company and would love a quick intro call (if you applied already-let them know). Preface it with even though they may not have anything right now, you’d love to make the connection should something open in the future (if they are a company of interest now, they likely will later….also if you make an impression, they may create a role!) 👉 They may not make time for it now- that’s ok. Send a follow up email (a short one!) with a few bullet points of your accomplishments and ideal next step. Attach your resume. Important- make sure you ask them to send your info to any one in their network that may have an interest. Keep expanding your list as you go through this exercise. Most reverse the 90/10 and spend 90% of their time on the blackhole of job boards. They then get frustrated/exhausted and lose hope because it’s not yielding results. Change your methods and see the difference. #jobseekers #advice #proactivesearch

Recently, I coached an ambitious professional who perfectly captured what many struggle with - the networking paralysis. After 8 years abroad, she relocated to Florida and found herself competing against thousands for each role, with her biggest obstacle being: "I don't have the confidence for networking. That terrifies me." Her story represents so many talented professionals who feel stuck despite their impressive skills. Whether transitioning from government to corporate, trying to break into tech giants, or pivoting industries, the roadblocks often boil down to human connections rather than qualifications. Here's what emerged from my weekly our group coaching session that can help transform your job search approach: ⏩ Stop applying cold and start building relationships - - Out of my 29 jobs, 24 came through relationship-building. When you apply cold, you compete against thousands. When someone advocates for you internally, your resume actually gets seen. The difference is staggering. ⏩ Create a diversified target list of companies - - One participant was fixated solely on Pinterest. While passion for a specific company is admirable, putting all your eggs in one basket is dangerous. Aim for 40 target companies - especially in today's market. This creates multiple pathways to success and prevents devastating setbacks if one opportunity falls through. ⏩ Interview even when you don't need to - - A Google veteran of 14 years hadn't interviewed externally in over a decade. For those in stable positions, taking interviews offers risk-free practice and builds confidence. For everyone else, aim for 5 meaningful conversations weekly with people at your target companies. The truth about networking that transformed our most hesitant clients? It's not about "selling yourself" - it's about learning and earning. Learn about companies, roles, and industry trends through genuine curiosity, and you'll naturally earn advocates along the way. What networking mindset shift helped you the most in your career journey?

LinkedIn just dropped their “Top 50 Companies for Career Growth” list. I analyzed the data. Here's what I discovered... These companies aren't just hiring; they're completely transforming talent: ↳ Alphabet (#1) now offers unlimited education reimbursement at ALL levels ↳ Amazon (#2) committed $1.2B specifically for workforce upskilling ↳ JPMorgan dropped degree requirements for 70% of experienced roles Here’s what matters if you’re trying to get a job at these companies: — Technical literacy is non-negotiable. Even non-tech roles at these companies require basic AI understanding. — Continuous learning signals are critical. 78% of these employers look for candidates who show past investment in their own development. — Demonstrated results in previous roles matter more than impressive titles. These companies hire problem-solvers. — Having relationships (or building them) witin these organizations dramatically increase your chances. Modern Skillsets They're Actually Searching For: • Evidence you can learn complex concepts rapidly. • Proof you've contributed measurable results in previous roles. • Signs you collaborate effectively across diverse teams. • Indications you can operate with minimal guidance. These companies want people who can navigate uncertainty and contribute from day one. The biggest mistake I see? Most spend 80% of their time on applications and 20% on networking. The hundreds of clients I’ve helped get into these types of companies flip that strategy. They also make sure to focus on the elements that matter most in the hiring process. Pro Tip: Reframe your resume to showcase outcomes and learning agility vs. responsibilities. Check out the infographic👇 for all 50 companies and industry breakdowns. ♻ Share this to help your network ➕ Follow me for more career insights

Students, treat your job search like a campaign. Marketing students asked me..."How do we get employers to consider us when we don't have work experience?" Since meeting with a group of exceptionally bright, capable, and motivated marketing students at NYU SPS Integrated Marketing & Communications, I gave this question more thought. Here's what I'd do: 1. Define the product benefits (You) and what problem you uniquely solve for your target market. 2. Define your ideal customer profile (prospective employers). Dive into their firmographics. 3. Segment the ICP list and research each industry. 4. Research each "customer" as if you were running an Account-Based Marketing 1:1 campaign. 5. Identify your customer's struggling moments. Read their reports, external communications, and customer reviews. 6. Tailor your value proposition and messaging for each customer. 7. Build your landing page (LinkedIn) - I'm going to write a separate post on this. 8. Create your outbound messaging. 9. Identify the buying champions (Hiring managers, H.R., and Functional leaders). Follow them on LinkedIn. Like and intelligently comment on their content. 10. Define your conversation goal(s) - Awareness is a good start. An introductory call is better. 11. Engage your buyers with outbound messaging. Polite, succinct, and polished communication is essential. 12. Send three messages over a period of five weeks to each of your targets To my network, what additional advice would you give to students who are campaigning for jobs? #marketing #jobsearch

Still applying to hundreds of jobs and hearing nothing back? Here’s a quiet shift that makes a big impact: Create a Target Company List. Instead of chasing every job post, this approach helps you focus on organizations that match your values, career goals, and work style.  ✔️ It puts you in control of your job search ✔️ It makes networking less awkward and more intentional ✔️ It increases your chances of being noticed—before a job even opens In this article, I walk you through: How to create a list of 20–30 aligned companies -- Where to find them using LinkedIn -- What to do once you’ve built your list -- Gentle networking strategies (especially if you’re an introvert) -- How to keep your list fresh and strategic over time If you're tired of mass applying and ready to job search with clarity and intention, this is for you. Have you ever created a target company list? Have we met? 👋 Hi, I’m Ana, a 3x certified career coach, LinkedIn & job search strategist. I help introverts optimize their LinkedIn profile to become visible to recruiters so they can land job interviews faster. Is that you? Then, follow along for job search, career advice, and interview help! #JobSearchTips #JobSearch