Creating a List of Potential Employers

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‍Identifying Potential Employers: A Smarter Job Search Strategy

Are you limiting your job search by only looking at online job boards? The reality is, many prime opportunities never make it to public listings. Sticking solely to platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, or Google means you may be missing a significant slice of the job market. Here's why a proactive approach wins:

1. When you reach out to companies that aren’t actively advertising their job openings, you sidestep the flood of applications that come with publicly posted jobs. This gives you a better chance of standing out.

2. Many employers value candidates with initiative. Demonstrating genuine interest in their organization – even when no openings are posted – shows motivation, research skills, and     proactivity.

3. Proactive outreach allows you to learn more about company culture and potential career paths, ensuring a better fit.

What you can do: set a goal to identify 30 potential employers.

To expand your job search, start by creating an organized list of 30 potential employers in your desired field, regardless of whether they currently have job openings. This targeted approach helps you uncover hidden opportunities and build connections with key players in your industry. Setting a goal of 30 employers provides a manageable target, giving you a structured approach to your search.

Here’s how to build your list:

1. Start local:

• Research businesses in your city, neighborhood, or surrounding areas.
• Tap into our extensive network: Workforce Buffalo's Business Services staff have established connections with     numerous local companies, opening doors to potential opportunities.
• Check local chamber of commerce directories and industry associations.
• Explore local business journals and publications for company features.
• Use Google Maps or other mapping tools to identify businesses near you.

2. Conduct online research:

• Use free research tools to conduct research, including Google, online business directories from your local libraries, local chambers of commerce, industry associations, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau.
• Perform LinkedIn company searches to discover businesses and their key contacts.

3. Consider small to medium-sized businesses:

• Don’t overlook smaller companies, startups, and nonprofits, as they often provide unique opportunities for growth and direct impact.
• Many small businesses don’t have large HR teams, so they rely on referrals and proactive candidates to fill roles.

4. Use your network:

• Ask friends, family, and former colleagues for recommendations and introductions.
• Attend industry events, job fairs, and networking opportunities.
• Use LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your field and learn about unadvertised openings.

Next steps: make meaningful connections.

Start reaching out. Send personalized emails expressing interest in the company, connect with key employees on LinkedIn, or even visit businesses in person when appropriate. (If you feel that you are too shy or nervous, you could try calling outside of office hours early in the morning or later in the evening to leave a message and then send a follow-up email with more information about your qualifications.)

This proactive approach not only expands your job prospects, but also helps you build a strong professional network that can benefit your career long-term.

By taking control of your job search and strategically identifying potential employers, you will unlock opportunities that many job seekers overlook. Start building your list today and unlock the hidden opportunities that await you.

Contact us at the SUNY Erie Career Centers 716-270-4444 or the Downtown Career Center 716-856-5627 for personal job-hunting assistance.

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Denise DiBlasi, Workforce Buffalo, Blog #2

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