First, you have to know what you want to do, then target the companies in the industry that can use the experience and skills you can provide. How do you find such companies in your area?
Start with the Yellow Pages, making a list of all the employers in your industry you can contact. Compile a list of both small and large companies. Read business magazines and newspapers' business sections for industry news and information.
What kind of information are you seeking? You want to know how well your target companies are doing, problems they are having, if any, executive changes, what's taking place in the field, trends, short - and long-term plans of the companies, information that gives you insight about these companies and their needs, the kind of intelligence that can be invaluable during interviews. Then compile a list of ways you can contribute to your target companies through your experience.
The next step is to arrange appointments with executives in your target companies. Sometimes you may have to go through a company's human resource staff to get to your target executive, although you have a better chance of hitting pay dirt by talking with the executive. Human resources can sometimes be a bottleneck, sad to say, and sometimes hiring decisions can get lost in a large company's bureaucracy. When you have the information you need about your target company, zero in on the area that interests you and contact the executive who has power to make hiring decisions. If the executive sends you through the human resource office, you'll enjoy an advantage because you were recommended by someone with clout. Remember in such cases that you have to impress the individuals who will interview you.
Another way to check out the hidden job market is to look at the job listings in major companies. Many companies routinely post job listings of new positions every week. Such job listings give the starting and mid-range salaries of positions and a brief but informative description of the duties involved. They usually include a contact, too. If you have friends in such a company, ask them to check out job listings that apply to you. In many companies, it is possible to walk in and take the elevator to the floor of your choice. In such cases you can ask a secretary where the job listings are posted.
Some companies won't allow you in unless you have an appointment to see someone. This is done for security reasons by major companies in large cities. In such a situation, try to visit a friend or make an appointment with a human resource professional to get an opportunity to see the listings. Or you might ask to use the restroom. Job listings are usually displayed in a place where company employees can conveniently see them.
Once you've researched your target companies, you are ready to use your acquired information to convince the interviewer about the contributions you can make to the company. This is the way savvy job hunters can sometimes create a niche for themselves. By researching a company and its needs, the job hunter goes to the interview armed with information that can be used to pinpoint problems and needs with suggestions as to how they can be solved. This can result in an offer or the creation of a new position because of the job hunter's suggestions and experience. Such effort and expertise are not lost on intelligent interviewers or executives.
The kind of interview information job hunters need can be found through friends and acquaintances, in some instances.
But industry and business publications such as Business Week, Forbes, Fortune magazine, and The Wall Street Journal can provide valuable information about such companies. Standard Rate and Data, which has volumes listing both consumer and trade publications, can provide additional information about these companies. What makes business publications so valuable is that they report regularly on the business world in the United States and abroad. They publish articles and profiles on companies and individuals, reporting trends, changes, successes, and failures. Keep up with the goings-on in the business world. The knowledge acquired will be invaluable during business discussions with your interviewers.
