Target your job search: 3 steps to reach the right employers
If you’re job searching now, you’re probably well aware of how competitive the job market is. Employers are cautious about hiring, so there are fewer open positions. At the same time, AI and other technologies are making it easier for job seekers to apply for multiple positions—some employers report they’re receiving more than 10 times the number of applicants as five years ago.
The result of those trends? Exceptional frustration. Applicants often apply to 150 job openings before they are invited to a single interview. It’s tough out there. But that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to spend the next year sending your resume into the void. There ARE ways that job seekers can boost their chances for success.
A few weeks ago, we offered tips to Network to your next job. Today, we’ll walk you through three steps to target your job search and reach out to the employers you really want to work for.
Find out who’s out there. Identify local employers in your industry or field and create a starter list.
Whether you live in a large city or a rural area, there are likely to be businesses you don’t know that hire people in your field. Try the options below to search for employers. For this first step, you can include “any and every” employer, keeping an open mind about potential job prospects they may offer. You’re not looking for active job openings, just getting to know which employers in your location employ people with your skills and experience. Below are some ways to help you find them:
- Visit the Business Finder and search by your job title, type of employer (for example, hospital, restaurant, or school) or another keyword. You can filter for the company size you prefer, and distance from your location. Many profiles include a contact person and phone number.
- Also visit the Job Finder to search for open positions in your field. Then scan the “Filter by: Company” list to see the business names with the most postings. Right now, you’re not looking for specific jobs to apply for but gathering information about who is posting for jobs.
- Ask an AI tool like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot to give you a list of companies that might hire in your field and your location.
Research your list of companies to target those that match your preferences,needs, and goals.
Once you’ve identified employers related to your field, take some time to research them to find a meaningful fit with your goals. What’s most important to you in your next employer? For example, are you looking for a company that shows strong growth, promotes from within, makes products or services you’re excited about, offers employee skill training, matches your personal mission or values, or other qualities?
This step requires that you discover information about the company’s culture, policies, and reputation so you can see if they’d be a good fit for you. Here are some good sources for employer research:
- Visit company websites. Find the business’ main website and look for the “About Us” or similar section to learn about their purpose, focus, and more. Of course, check out their current job openings, too, to see how they describe them and what they offer. But right now, keep focused on your outreach to them and don’t let it stop you if there are no current openings.
- Follow companies on social media. Whether or not you’re personally active on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram, you can follow employers you’re interested in to get a feel for how they present themselves and their values or culture.
- Put AI to work for you. You can ask AI tools like Chat GPT, Copilot, or Gemini to help you learn about employers. Ask about specific companies’ culture, reputation, or other characteristics. You can also include a job title to ask what the company looks for in candidates in your field.
- Search employee reviews. You can use platforms like Glassdoor.com to search for employee reviews. They can be helpful to get a general sense of what it’s like to work for a particular company, but you should be wary of relying on them too heavily: people are more likely to post negative reviews than positive reviews, and some negative reviews may be the result of personal issues that would not apply to you.
Need to understand your “ideal employer” better? Take the Work Values Matcher to identify your values and learn how to recognize a company’s values.
Identify contacts at your targeted companies and reach out.
Use any of the sources above—company websites, social media, or AI searches—to identify people you want to get in touch with. Also, check out Professional Associations to meet people in your field. LinkedIn is a great source for identifying people who work in a related field or the company you want to explore. However you find your contacts, try to get an email address or social media connection for the next step.
Send a short email or follow up to a LinkedIn request to introduce yourself and say that you’re interested in learning more about their work or employer. Depending on the role of the person you’re connecting with, you can ask if they have any suggestions or know of job openings. You could also ask about company culture, referrals to others in the field, or other questions you have. Here are some points to keep in mind:
- Review your sources like company websites, social media, and business media to learn about the company. You can highlight this information in your email. (More ideas on Research employers.)
- Craft your email thoughtfully to show your awareness and enthusiasm about the employer you’re reaching out to. For example, “Company X’s reputation for outstanding customer service and a culture of inclusion is something I want to be part of.” Or “I recently learned Company X invested in solar and wind energy to fuel its new production facilities, which is impressive, both for saving money and reducing pollution.”
- Describe your qualifications that seem relevant, based on what you’ve learned about the company. For example, if you’re looking for an administrative assistant position and know the types of skills they hire for in that role, include your related qualifications, such as detail orientation, corporate experience with major clients, and Microsoft Office skills.
- Attach your resume and describe how you will follow up with them. For instance, you could suggest a phone call or another email in a few days.
Want some in-person assistance to help target your job search? Contact your closest American Job Center and ask about free workshops, resume reviews, job leads, computers and printers, and other job search help.
Crafting a focused resume that shows off your strengths is an essential way to stand out to employers. Learn how in our next post.