CONTACTING COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW ARE HIRING

In addition to networking to establish contacts with companies and managers who can assist you in building a contacts network, you can also contact companies that you know are hiring.

There is value in contacting companies that you know are hiring. They many not be hiring in your field or discipline, but the fact that they are hiring can increase the probability that they either have a job that might fit your background, or they may have one sooner that those companies who are not hiring at present.

How do you know which companies are hiring?

There are several sources of information that will give you that information. If you are looking for a job in your local area, look at the want ads in the Sunday paper. Make a list of the companies that are running ads that you might like to work for. Be sure to note the address, and any names that might appear in the ad.

If you are looking beyond your local area, then your choices multiply. Get a copy of the Wall Street Journal, particularly the Wednesday edition, which has the national want-ads in it. Again make a list of the companies that interest you and any names that might appear in the ads.

Also, go to the library and look at trade journals and magazines, such as Fortune Magazine, Business Week or Forbes. These will also have ads for jobs in the back of the magazines.

Once you have your list of companies, you will want to find the names of the key managers for those companies. If you do not already have the names on your networking list, go to the library and consult the State Industrial Directory, or find Annual Reports (libraries sometimes have annual reports for local companies). Ask the research librarian for additional references that will give you managers’ names.

Once you have the names and addresses, you will need to write a letter of introduction. I will cover that in the next post.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, write me a execmgmt.search@gmail.com.