Secret Ingredient to a Proactive Job Search: Target List

What is a target list?

A target list is a focused list of companies you’d like to work for, whether or not they have an opening right now. It is your strategic roadmap for networking.

Why it works: understand the job cycle

A job opens for one or more of these reasons:

• Unexpected: Sally gives her two weeks’ notice.
• Expected: Jeff is being promoted to supervisor.
• Growth: The company just won a new client.

Often, the people in the know hear about these changes before a job is ever posted. People prefer to hire people that have been referred or recommended. If you’ve already connected with someone at the company, you have a better chance of hearing about an opening early due to this!

Targeting is a strategy.

In a tough job market, you need every advantage you can get. Being intentional is one of them. A larger target list means you have a better chance of being in the right place at the right time. A proactive job search means you doing everything you can to increase your odds in a competitive field.

Many job seekers try to put networking first. You need to build first, connect second. Doing it in this order keeps your networking intentional rather than random.

Aim for a focused target list.

Your list won’t be perfect, and that’s okay. As you do your research, companies may come off your list and that is what is supposed to happen. It means you are doing it right. If you haven’t created a target list, start now.