Job Prospecting

Most often when we find ourselves in need of a professional job we jump on a job search website, examine the listings, and apply to a posted, advertised job opening. What if we turned this around, planned ahead, and started pursuing companies we would like to work for rather than waiting until we needed a job and hoping we get what happens to be available at the time?

What is job prospecting?

Job prospecting is identifying companies and organizations you would like to work for and working to connect with them. The company may or may not have job openings in your field that you are qualified for now; however, the potential exists that in the future they will.

If we build relationships with company representatives early, it is possible that when an employment opportunity arises, we will have put ourselves in a position to be favored among the competition.

How do I job prospect?

Begin by identifying local companies and organizations you would like to work for. If you plan to relocate after graduation, or return to your hometown, you will want to job prospect in these towns and cities. No use job prospecting where you don’t intend to live.

Once you have the companies identified, the next step is to do your research. Find out everything you can about the companies on your list. You can do this by:

• Reading through everything on the company website
• Reviewing the company LinkedIn profile and the profiles of key employees
• Examining the company’s social media accounts
• Conducting a Google search of the company
  • Are there company reviews you can evaluate?
  • Comments from customers and employees you can read?
  • Annual reports to examine?

During your research pay special attention to:

• The company’s mission statement
• Company initiatives and projects
• The company’s community engagement (do employees regularly participate in local events or volunteer at local organizations?)
• Job openings and employment information
• Internship programs

Activities you can partake in to start building connections with companies:

• Follow the company on LinkedIn
• Request to connect on LinkedIn with people who work there
  • Who do you already know that works there?
  • Can you connect with alumni from your university who work there?
  • Try to connect with key employees; human resources and those in the department you would like to work
• Attend local events that the company participates in and/or sponsors
• Volunteer at the organizations the company supports
• Follow the company on social media
  • Visit your career center and ask if they have an existing relationship with the company Does the company participate in events on your campus? If so, attend them and introduce yourself to company representatives
  • Ask your career center representatives for advice on how to connect with this company
• Conduct an informational interview with a representative from the company (more on this in the next chapter)