Finding the Right Job

Sure, job listings—anywhere—are a starting point. A good online database will post thousands of jobs indexed by profession and location. And that's just one database! But many who begin their job search this way start to feel weary or overwhelmed very quickly. There's a major difference between random searching and intelligent researching. If you research the job market thoroughly, you will have a clearer idea of what is attractive to you. You will also be able to design your résumé and cover letter more effectively because your research has helped you to match an opportunity to your search parameters.

Every company is part of an industry; and, as such, the fortunes of any company are heavily determined by what's happening in its industry. Such information is often compiled assiduously. Just think about cars and computers. Here are two industries in which an awareness of the big picture can be critical to your success in finding the right job. Imagine going for a job interview at General Motors (or Toyota) and not knowing anything about hybrid cars. In the computer industry, major trends seem to happen weekly. Researching the industry will help you decide whether or not you want to stay in the industry you have chosen or if you want to move to something entirely new. If the trends show that you are in a declining industry, it may be time for a change. Secondly, when you have an interview, it will help you to ask informed questions (which always impresses hiring managers) and to answer questions from a richer perspective.

No. Much depends, of course, on the level of the job you are looking for. If you are seeking a very high level executive position in the same industry, you may already know most of the required information. But collecting and organizing data will still require many hours. Then again, if you are seeking a high level position in a new industry, you may need to spend several weeks on your job market research. If you are seeking an individual contributor position, you may not need to know as much about industry trends, but you will want to do several days of research on your targeted organizations. Assuming you have already pinned down your career aspirations, there simply is no substitute for knowing what's happening in:

1. related career fields,
2. relevant industries, and
3. leading-edge companies.

In the early stages of your research, you should begin by researching industry trends. Look for:

• major growth areas
• major players
• major challenges and problems for this industry

It's tempting to try to do all your research from your computer. But consider this as a better first step: Visit your nearest city or university library. Ask the reference librarian for help in finding reference guides and publications containing information about industry trends.

The main reason to look at printed materials is that it will give you a better feel for the vitality of industries you're considering. This is communicated by the volume of information you can find at the library as well as by the appearance of the documents. Then, too, there's the argument that assessing industry trends in the quiet of a library can help you focus on the rest of the search work you still have to do.

By the way, most libraries should have a copy of the major resource guide to information on the types of jobs to be found in the United States, the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor. It describes more than 250 occupations and over 1 million jobs. You might also want to look at the Encyclopedia of Associations, which lists more than 100,000 professional and trade associations organized by industry, and the Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources that lists trade publications, newsletters, handbooks, associations, and online databases.

If you have a good feel for what's happening in the industries in which you have an interest, the next step is to narrow your research to specific companies that could have the right job for you. What information are you trying to find about each company? Start with:

• size of the organization (sales, profits, market share, numbers of employees)
• strong and weak points
• key competitors
• organizational culture
• how the company is organized
• key strategic challenges

Here is where the Internet is your best path for research. Most companies try to keep their online information up-to-date, as it is often used by customers, journalists, and job seekers alike. There are some excellent specialized search engines for companies. Once you have found an organization that you are interested in, be sure to acquire a copy of its annual report. You'll probably be able to find this on their Web site, or, if not, simply call the company and ask them to send you a copy (company contact information is usually easy to find on the organization's Web site).

If you are targeting a local company, find ways to talk to employees about what it is like to work there and what its strengths and weaknesses are. You can do this via networking (talking to trusted friends and associates who may know someone employed at a specific company) but also consider visiting discussion boards that might have an abundance of information posted by people working at the company in which you're interested. There are highly specialized services (such as Hoover's) that keep up-to-date on what's happening inside major companies; you might incur a cost for such information, but what you learn could be valuable to you in a job interview. Also, consider the numerous "best companies to work for" listings that appear frequently. These are usually listings assembled by professional journalists, and the information provided can be unique to that source.

Every job search, if it's thorough, starts with thinking about one's career. Ultimately, however, your research should have come down to a specific job. Here, too, there's vital information that you need to discover. Start thinking about yourself in that job and starting to work as a new company employee next Monday:

• What would my tasks and responsibilities be?
• What qualifications are needed? What is the typical salary for a job like this?
• What can I find out about the hiring manager?

While such information is usually covered in the interview stage, if you can gather information about them ahead of time, you are better prepared for your cover letter, your résumé, and the interview itself. If you saw the job advertisement, then the tasks and responsibilities were probably spelled out. If you know for sure that there is a job opening, you can call and ask the company to send you a copy of the job description.

You will also want to find out as much as you can about the hiring manager, and you may be able to do this through some of the business reference books mentioned above, if he or she is at a high enough level. You can also do an Internet search to see if he or she has been mentioned in any publications or has published anything in your field. Professional associations may have information on this person if he or she is active in your professional field. And if you know other people in the company, you can use your contacts to find out as much as possible about the hiring manager, before you contact him or her. You are looking for any information that shows that you may have something in common. This is valuable information for the cover letter and also strengthens relationship-building when you are being interviewed.

This can present two problems for you as you pursue a job. First, you may focus on a job that, if you had known more, sooner, would have been dismissed as not being a good match for your career. Secondly, you may focus on a job for which you are not really qualified—or one that thousands of others are trying to land as well. Further, if you do not do enough research about the industry, the company, and the job, you may say or do something that shows your ignorance and jeopardizes your chances. If you can demonstrate that you have done your homework, you will really stand out from the pack and will have a better chance of being hired.

Finding the right job is, in many ways, like the work of a detective. If you're doing the work properly, you'll be amassing lots of information. Organize it as you collect it. It is helpful to create files for each of the industries and companies that you are researching. Systematize your information so that you can find what you need quickly. This is especially important when you are preparing for an interview. You might want to prepare a set of index cards listing key points that you want to remember. Carry these cards with you wherever you go to help you to learn and remember important information.

Bolles, Richard. What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. Ten Speed Press, 2006.

O'Brien, Jack. The Complete Job Search Organizer. Kiplinger Books, 2007.

Jobfiler: http://jobfiler.com

Job Hunting: http://lookd.com/job-search