This is a guest post from my friend Kevin Donlin, in Minnesota. More on him after the post.
“How can I find the best companies to work for?”
That’s a question I hear almost daily from job seekers.
It’s hard to answer … because it’s the wrong question.
Here’s the real issue beneath that question: “I don’t want to have to think hard about finding the best companies to work for.”
Admit it. You — like me and all humans — hate to think.
It takes time. You have to pick and choose. You might make a mistake. And it can give you a headache.
But unthinking behavior is a sure way to stay unemployed.
So, let’s re-phrase the query, because a well-phrased question is half-answered.
If you’ve been job hunting for more than 4 weeks, ask this question instead: “What have I NOT been willing to do to find the best companies to work for?”
That’s better. And easier to answer. In fact, I can think of 4 things you can do TODAY to find the best employers to work for …
1) Look at your connections on LinkedIn.
I mean really look. Pick 5 people you admire, view their profiles, and look for the following:
- Where do they work now? (Could you work there?)
- Where did they work before? (Could you work there?)
- Who are their clients? (Could you work there?)
- Who are their competitors? (Could you work there?)
- Who are their vendors? (Could you work there?)
Do this for 5, 10, or more people, and you’ll surely find 5-20 prospective employers.
2) Make connections at your last employers.
Specifically, think about everyplace you’ve worked before. Now ask yourself the following questions:
- Could you work there again? (Could you work there again? Don’t snicker — getting re-hired happens every day.)
- Could you work for your former clients?
- Could you work for your former competitors?
- Could you work for your former vendors?
3) Find companies in the news.
Spend 15-20 minutes researching the Business section of your local newspaper, looking for fast, smart, growing companies. Can’t find any? Consider moving (or looking harder).
4) Ask 5 people you admire.
I saved this for last, but it really ought to come first. Because, the more conversations you have, the more people will know about your job search — and the faster you’ll get hired.
So, ask the 5 most-connected people you know for advice.
Tip: Take them all out for coffee, bring a legal pad, take notes. In 30-45 minutes, you’ll surely come away with answers that will shorten your job search. Total cost: Less than $30.
Resource: If you’re in the job market and want to try something new, you can see Guerilla Job Search secrets caught on video and learn more here.
Kevin Donlin has partnered with Dave Perry, one of my all-time favorites in the job search world. I had dinner with Kevin last year in Minneapolis, and got to know him pretty well – he’s a very cool guy, and quite passionate about helping people get results in their job search. Kevin and Dave have a Guerilla Job Search Boot Camp and I hear great things about it from people who have finished it.
Also, here’s a P.S. from Kevin’s email: If you know anyone looking for a job in the Detroit area, please tell them to come meet David Perry and me in person on Sept. 17 — https://www.PutMichiganBackToWork.com. Doesn’t that look cool?
(some of the links in this post are affiliate links)
Great Post! I am hoping that all the people looking for jobs caught this post either because they follow Jason or me or someone else who puts it out there. This is the most difficult concept to get across. You need to use the right tools or your job search will fail. When I ask someone (who may not even be my client) how they are searching and they tell me online postings, major job sites, newspapers, I cringe. All of these things coupled with your network might work but alone, they won’t. You will get lost in a sea of applications and resumes especially if you didn’t load your resume with keywords and accomplishment-based examples of how you made a difference.