Safeguarding Your Personal Brand for the Job Search

Safeguarding Your Personal Brand for the Job SearchSafeguarding Your Personal Brand for the Job SearchLearn how to protect the privacy of your personal, social accounts.Just when you thought your online brand was safeFacebook recently announced it removed a privacy feature allowing users to control whether their name populated in search results. While Facebook says the change will only affect a small percentage of its 1 billion international users, it could mean new risks for the personal brands of millions. In the wake of this change, reflect on the state of your social accounts and safeguard your professional brand.FacebookVisit the Privacy section of your Facebook account to adjust your account settings. Limit the audience for posts youve previously shared with friends of friends or Public and adjust the audience of future posts to Friends. Turn Off the setting at the very bottom of the Privacy Settings and Tools section that would allow other search engines to link to your timeli ne.PinterestMany turn to Pinterest when organizing projects, events, or outfits. As a result, your Pinterest boards probably have little or nothing to do with your career. If your boards are dedicated to recipes, DIY crafts or items for your dream closet rather than displaying your portfolio of work, switch Search Privacy to Yes in the Settings section.InstagramThis app is a great way to share your latest photos and videos. By default, your account is set up so that anyone on Instagram can view your profile. Limit your exposure to only approved followers by tapping on the icon in the lower-right corner of your profile. Tap Edit Your Profile next to your profile picture, then select the opt for Posts are Private by checking a box or toggling the switch to On (depending on your device).Google+ Everyone with a Gmail account automatically has a Google Plus account thats searchable on the web. While this can be a great tool to demonstrate professional expertise, share news and ideas, and brainstorm with other thought-leaders, it first has to be filled out and aligned with your professional brand. Avoid entering information that wouldnt belong on your resume, such as your relationship status and the dates of experience or education 15 years prior. To limit who can view various sections of your account, check out Google+ Help Community.TwitterYou CAN reap the benefits of Twitter for your job search without aligning your profile with your professional brand. If youd prefer to use your account for off-color rants about a despised football team, check the Protect my Tweet box. This is in the Security and privacy section of your accounts Settings. As a result, people must request your approval to follow you Tweets will only be visible to your approved followers.To be extra cautious, change the name on your personal accounts to a nickname. You can also enable the Do Not Track function in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer, and you will not be tracked acro ss the web.

The 4 best work lessons for adults from Take Your Kids to Work Day

The 4 best work lessons for adults from Take Your Kids to Work DayThe 4 best work lessons for adults from Take Your Kids to Work DayHavingbunch of cute little kids running around the office on Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day this week probably did mora than boost your mood.Your child can also teach you something about how to approach your career. Incorporating some childlike freedom at work could be the push you need to level up.1. Stay inquisitiveYoung kids arent afraid to ask questions- and you shouldnt be either.Tom Pohlmann and Neethi Mary Thomas of big data analytics and decision sciences company Mu Sigma wrote about just how question-focusedkids can be in a 2015Harvard Business Review article.In a recent poll of more than 200 of our clients, we found that those with children estimated that 70-80% of their kids dialogues with others were comprised of questions. But those saatkorn clients said that only 15-25% of their own interactions consisted of questions, they wrote. Instead of backing down, remember to ask questions in the office- whether its asking for clarification or asking for what you want directly- even if it makes you uncomfortable doing so in front of your team.2. Use your imagination and take creative risksKids dream that they can be anyone (and anything) they please, and you encourage them to - so why shouldnt you?The next time you find yourself in a rut or frustrated with work, set aside some time to daydream. After all, science says that itcan be good for you. You might even realize what you really want to strive for in your career, and come up with a plan to go after it.Ditch the jaded outlook that takes over on long, cloudy days for a more optimistic perspective.3. Have a sense of humorLynn Taylor, workplace expert and author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant, told Forbes that workers tend to save the humor for their coworkers (not their managers). But keeping an inclusive sense of humor every day, with everyone, can be a big boost to your career.Humor creates an upbeat atmosphere that encourages interaction, brainstorming of new ideas, and a feeling that there are few risks in thinking outside the box. All that leads to greater productivityIt also stands to reason that if youre in a more jovial atmosphere, youll have more passion for what you do. Your work ethic will increase, and your enthusiasm will likely be contagious. Its a win-win for you and your employer, Taylor told Forbes.But cracking the right type of joke (properly) might even help you during a salary negotiation.4. Remember the golden ruleIn this case, treat your coworkers how youd want to be treated- with respect.The Harvard Business Review teamed up with Tony Schwartz, president and CEO of The Energy Project, and Georgetown University professor Christine Porath on a study of more than 19,000 employees, which she wrote about in an HBR article.Those that get respect from their leaders reported 56% better health and well-being, 1.72 times m ore trust and safety, 89% greater enjoyment and satisfaction with their jobs, 92% greater focus and prioritization, and 1.26 times more meaning and significance. Those that feel respected by their leaders were also 1.1 times more likely to stay with their organizations than those that didnt, Porath wrote.When parents step out of the drivers seat for the day, their kids can teach them a lot.

Lin-Manuel Miranda to Penns Class of 16 Immigrants get the job done

Lin-Manuel Miranda to Penns Class of 16 Immigrants get the job doneLin-Manuel Miranda to Penns Class of 16 Immigrants get the job doneIts graduation season, and we herbeie at Ladders have decided to take a look back and showcase some past commencement addresses that stand the test of time. Below is the full transcript of Lin-Manuel Mirandas commencement address toUniversity of Pennsylvanias Class of 2016 Thank you President Gutmann, MC Provost, Board of Trustees, Faculty, Family, Mister Vice President, Undergrads of the fur Penn Schools of Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, and dear exhausted, exhilarated, terrified graduates of the Class of 2016.I begin with an apology.I am the writer of Hamilton An American Musical. Every word in the show- and there are over 22,000 words in the show- were chosen and put in a really specific order by me. So I am painfully aware that neither Philly nor the great state of Pennsylvania is mentioned in Hamilton, with the exception of onec ouplet in the song Hurricane, where Hamilton singsI wrote my way out of HellI wrote my way to Revolution,I welches louder than the crack in The Bell.Thats it One blink and you miss it, the Liberty Bell referenceItscommencement seasonFollow LaddersCommencement Addresses magazine on Flipboardto watch and read all of the most inspiring speeches from this year and years past.I am also painfully aware that this Commencement address is being live-streamed and disseminated all over the world instantly. In fact, painfully aware is pretty much my default state. Oh yeah, thats Lin, hespainfully aware.So, with the eyes of the world and history on us all, Id like to correct the record and point out that a few parts in Hamilton An American Musical actually took place in Pennsylvania.The Battle of Monmouth, wherein General Charles Lee, in ur show, Sed the Bed and retreated against Washingtons orders. According to Lafayette, this was the only time he ever heard George Washington curse out loud. Th ats right, the father of ur country dropped his choicest profanity and F-bombs in Pennsylvania.The Constitutional Convention, wherein Alexander Hamilton spoke extemporaneously for six hours in what is surely the most un-Tweet-able freestyle of all time, happened right here in Philly.In fact, Alexander Hamilton lived at 79 South 3rd Street when he began his extramarital affair with Maria Reynolds, creating the time-honored precedent of political sex scandals and mea culpa. You guys, The Good Wife wouldnt even exist if Hamilton hadnt gotten the ball rolling on this dubious American tradition, right on South 3rd street, right near the Cos.Finally, I need to apologize on behalf of the historical Alexander Hamilton, because if he hadnt sat down to dinner with James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, desperate for support for his financial plan, Philadelphia might well still be the US Capitol.Hamilton traded Philly away in the most significant backroom deal in American history. As the guy who plays Hamilton every night, let me get into character for a moment and say, My bad, Philadelphia. Thank you.But take the long view, Motown Philly. Who really won that deal in the end? Look at DC its synonymous with institutional dysfunction, partisan infighting and political gridlock. You are known as the birthplace of Louisa May Alcott, Rocky Balboa, Boyz II Men, Betsy Ross, Will Smith, Isaac Asimov, Tina Fey, cheesesteaks, and you can have scrapple, soft pretzels and Wawa hoagies whenever you want. You win, Philly. You win every time. Water ice.The simple truth is this Every story you choose to tell, by necessity, omits others from the larger narrative. One could write five totally different musicals from Hamiltons eventful, singular American life, without ever overlapping incidents. For every detail I chose to dramatize, there are ten I left out. I include King George at the expense of Ben Franklin. I dramatize Angelica Schuylers intelligence and heart at the expense of Benedict Arnolds betrayal. James Madison and Hamilton were friends and political allies, but their personal and political fallout occurs right on our act break, during intermission. My goal is to give you as much as an evening of musical entertainment can provide, and have you on your way home slightly before Les Mis lets out next door.This act of choosing- the stories we tell versus the stories we leave out- will reverberate across the rest of your life. Dont believe me? Think about how you celebrated this Senior Week, and contrast that with the version you shared with the parents and grandparents sitting behind you.Penn, dont front. Youre a Playboy magazine ranked Party School- you know you did things this week that youre never mentioning again. I know what you did this summerIm going to tell you a story from my twenties today- a story Ive never told in public before. Ill tell you two stories actually. Its my hope that itll be of use to you as you stare down the quarter life marker.I am 20 years old, finishing my sophomore year at Wesleyan, and my girlfriend of four and a half years is home from her semester abroad. I cannot wait to see her again- she is my first love. I dread seeing her again- Ive grown into my life without her. In her absence, with time and angst to spare, I have developed the first draft of my first full-length musical, an 80-minute one-act called In the Heights. I have also developed a blinding pain in my right shoulder, which I cant seem to stop cracking. My girlfriend comes home. I am so happy to see her, even as my shoulder worsens. My mother takes me to a back specialist, ranked in New York magazine, so you know hes good.He examines me, looks me dead in the eyes, and says, Theres nothing wrong with your back. There will be if you keep cracking it, but what you have is a nervous tic. Is there anything in your life that is causing you stress? I burst into tears, in his office. He looks at me for a long time, as Im crying, and get this- youll ap preciate this, Rene- he tells me the story of Giuseppe Verdi. A 19th century Italian composer of some note, who, in the space of a few short years, lost his wife and two young children to disease. He tells me that Verdis greatest works- Rigoletto, La Traviata- came not before, but after this season of Job, the darkest moments of his life. He looks me in the eyes and tells me, Youre trying to avoid going through pain, or causing pain. Im here to tell you that youll have to survive it if you want to be any kind of artist.I break up with my girlfriend that night.I spend the summer in therapy. I tell a lot of stories Ive never told before.My father asks my mother, What the hell kind of back doctorVerdi? Really?I stop cracking my shoulder.The story I had been telling myself- happy guy in a long-distance relationship with his high school sweetheart- was being physically rejected by my body via my shoulder. Id never broken up with anyone before- in my head, I was a good guy, and good guys dont break up with their significant others when one of them goes off to study abroad. I was trying to fit my life into a romantic narrative that was increasingly at odds with how I really felt. In retrospect, we both were.What about her story? Well, its not mine to tell, but I can share this much she began dating one of her good friends the following year of college. Fast-forward to present day She is happily married to that same good friend, with two beautiful kids. In her story, I am not the angsty, shoulder-cracking tortured artist. Im the obstacle in the way of the real love story. For you Office fans Theyre Jim and Pam, and Im Roy.Story 2 I am out of college, I am 23 years old, and Tommy Kail and I are meeting with a veteran theater producer. To pay rent I am a professional substitute teacher at my old high school. Tommy is Audra McDonalds assistant. Tommy is directing In the Heights, and with his genius brain in my corner, my 80-minute one-act is now two acts. This big deal t heater producer has seen a reading we put on in the basement of The Drama Book Shop in mid-Manhattan, and he is giving us his thoughts. We hang on his every word, this is a big deal theater producer, and we are kids, desperate to get our show on. We are discussing the character of Nina Rosario, home from her first year at Stanford, the first in her family to go to college.The big deal theater producer saysNow I know in your version Ninas coming home with a secret from her parents shes lost her scholarship. The song is great, the actress is great. What Im bumping up against, fellas, is that this doesnt feel high stakes enough. Scholarship? Big deal. What if shes pregnant? What if her boyfriend at school hit her? What if she got caught with drugs? It doesnt have to be any of those things, youre the writer- but do you see what Im getting at guys, a way to ramp up the stakes of your story?I resist the urge to crack my shoulder.We get through the meeting and Tommy and I, again alone, loo k at each other. He knows what Im going to say before I say it.Pregnant- I know.Nina on drugs- I was there.But he wants to put our show up.Tommy looks at me.Thats not the story you want to tell and thats not the show I want to direct. There are ways to raise the stakes that are not that. Well just keep working.If I could get in a time machine and watch any point in my life, it would be this moment. The moment where Tommy Kail looked at uncertain, frazzled me, desperate for a production and a life in this business, tempted, and said no for us. I keep subbing, he continues working for Audra, we keep working on In the Heights for five years until we find the right producers in Jill Furman and Kevin McCollum and Jeffrey Seller. Until Philly native Quiara Hudes becomes my co-writer and reframes our show around a community instead of a love triangle. Until Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman take my songs and made them come to life through their orchestrations. It will be another five years before Heights reaches Broadway, exactly as we intended it.And then the good part Ninas story that we fought to tell, keeps coming back around in my life. It comes around in letters, or in the countless young men and women who find me on the subway or on college campuses and take my hand and say, You dont understand. I was the first in my family to go to college, when I felt out of place like I was drowning I listened to Breathe, Ninas song, and it got me through. And I think to myself as these strangers tell me their Nina stories, I do understand. And that sounds pretty high stakes to me.I know that many of you made miracles happen to get to this day. I know that parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles and family behind you made miracles happen to be here. I know because my family made miracles happen for me to be standing here talking to you, telling stories.Your stories are essential. Dont believe me?In a year when politicians traffic in anti-immigrant rhetoric, there is a lso a Broadway musical reminding us that a broke, orphan immigrant from the West Indies built our financial system. A story that reminds us that since the beginning of the great unfinished symphony that is our American experiment, time and time again, immigrants get the job done.My dear, terrified graduates- you are about to enter the most uncertain and thrilling period of your lives.The stories you are about to live are the ones you will be telling your children and grandchildren and therapists.They are the temp gigs and internships before you find your passion.They are the cities you live in before the opportunity of a lifetime pops up halfway across the world.They are the relationships in which you hang on for dear life even as your shoulder cracks in protest.They are the times you say no to the good opportunities so you can say yes to the best opportunities.They are what Verdi survived to bring us La Traviata.They are the stories in which you figure out who you are.There will be moments you remember and whole years you forget.There will be times when you are Roy and times when you are Jim and Pam.There will be blind alleys and one-night wonders and soul-crushing jobs and wake-up calls and crises of confidence and moments of transcendence when you are walking down the street and someone will thank you for telling your story because it resonated with their own.I feel so honored to be a detail, a minor character in the story of your graduation day.I feel so honored to bear witness to the beginning of your next chapter.Im painfully aware of whats at stake.I cant wait to see how it turns out.Thank you and congratulations to the Class of 2016.

7 Ways To Ask For The Job At Interviews End

7 Ways To Ask For The Job At Interviews End 7 Ways To Ask For The Job At Interviews End What to do at the  end of an interview?  Everyone tells you to ask for the job, but how does one ask for a job? Many job seekers take a passive approach: they don’t ask for the job. The passive approach does not work  well and is often interpreted in a lack of interest in the job. Interviewers and hiring managers assume that if a candidate doesn’t ask for the job, they just aren’t interested. From the candidates point of view, asking for the job may make  many uncomfortable, and it opens them up for rejection â€" this is especially common among candidates who have had long term frustrations with job search. Others feel that asking for the job is, “too pushy”. I give this general career advice to all candidates: Take a risk and ask because you miss 100% of the shots you never take. So far, this isn’t earth shattering news. Today, well go  over some strategies that work and contrast them with a few that don’t. In addition, I’ll help you translate the interviewer’s response to better understand if you’ll move forward in the hiring process. 7 ways to ask for the job at interview’s end: Common Approaches 1.  Direct Approach:  â€œI’d really like to work for your company â€" the job sounds perfect for me” While the most popular approach, this method is riddled with problems. It’s centered around what the candidate wants, not what the company wants. If delivered with the wrong tone, in the wrong situation, or to the wrong person, it can be perceived as desperate or pushy. This approach doesn’t ask the interviewer for their opinion of the candidate, which could even appear insulting. Where this can work â€" for a high pressure, transactional sales position, this demonstrates an ability to go for the close. At an employer that values relationships and taking the time to build trust, this approach can ruin an otherwise great interview. 2.  Feedback Approach:  â€œSo how did I do?” This approach asks the interviewer for feedback, and puts the interviewer on the spot. If you are one of the leading candidates, and the interviewer definitely has you on the callback list, you’ll probably get a strong answer. The problem with this approach is if you are on the bubble for callback, you’ll rarely have an interviewer tell you this (interviewers don’t want confrontation, or to make a discussion uncomfortable â€" plus they probably have to move on to the next candidate). If you’re on the bubble, you’ll probably get a non answer telling you that they will review all candidates and make callbacks in the next week or two â€" basically “Don’t call us, we’ll call you”. Closing Approaches 3.  Next Steps Approach:  â€œWhat’s our next step?” While a favorite among salespeople, this approach can have drawbacks also. This approach uses a technique common in the sales world, assuming there’s a next step and that the interview process will move forward. If you’re a leading candidate, you’ll likely get the response you want, otherwise you’re likely to hear that the company is still reviewing candidates and …. “Its  not you, its us”. 4.  Objections Approach:  â€œDo you have any remaining concerns about how well I could do the job?” This is another approach that might work more effectively for a sales position than for others. For a transactional sales position, it demonstrates closing techniques. For non-sales positions, you risk that you haven’t asked the right question. The interviewer may answer “no”, which can still leave the candidate in confusion â€" The interviewer may have decided that you are not a good fit, so they have no remaining concerns … the interviewer’s decision has already been made. Leveraged Feedback Approach (What you should be doing!) 5.  Ranking Approach:  â€œIn comparison to other candidates for this position, how do I rank?” This is a higher level approach, which can give the candidate insight as to chances of getting the job. Higher quality feedback is one of the advantages to this approach. You open the interviewer to give some great feedback, allowing a comparison of how strong of a fit the interviewer perceives vs your own perception of how the interview went. If the response that doesn’t translate into “you’re one of the top candidates” … move to the next opportunity, because this one’s not happening. 6.  Fit Approach:  â€œHow do you see me fitting in with your company?” This approach can uncover unmentioned objections in an interview and can give feedback to understand how well you “read” the interview (do your perceptions of fit match the interviewer’s perceptions). This can be effective especially when a key criteria is sensitivity to others. If the response isn’t excited and glowing, if the word “fine” or something similar is used, or if the interviewer is waiting to review all the candidates, you aren’t a top choice. Again, move on and don’t wait by the phone. 7.  1 to 10 Approach:  â€œOn a 1 to 10 scale (10 being best), how do you think I’d do in the position?” For most situations, I like this approach best, other than for highly transactional sales positions. This approach treats your desire to get feedback as an employee review, showing that you truly seek constructive criticism. It’s also a process that HR personnel, recruiters, and hiring managers are very familiar with, increasing your chances of getting an honest response. To get additional feedback, you can ask a secondary question “What could I do to make that a 10?” This approach gives you a very clear idea of where you stand and your best shot at understanding any objections in the interviewer’s mind â€" maybe even a chance to clear up any misunderstandings. If you get anything but a 9 or a 10, move on. Employers and Recruiters â€" What are some of the best approaches are you’ve seen for a candidate to ask for a job at the close of the interview? Phil Rosenberg  is an active blogger about social media and career change, Phil’s articles have been republished by several of the leading job, career and recruiting sites. Connect with Phil on Twitter  @philreCareered.

Six Awfully Good Career Lessons From Awful Summer Jobs

Six Awfully Good Career Lessons From Awful Summer Jobs Six Awfully Good Career Lessons From Awful Summer Jobs During college, in the summers I worked in a sandwich shop on Cape Cod while my boyfriend at the time worked in maintenance for the National Park Service. In his case, maintenance” was a glorified term for janitor- his job was to empty trash cans and clean the restrooms and portable toilets at all of the Cape Cod National Seashore beaches. While this summer job may seem awful to some, it had enough positive aspects that he went back to it several years in a row. The benefits to any summer job you get in your teens or in college can be unforeseen when you start out, yet what you learn on the job can stay with you for the rest of your life. Here are some benefits to working in jobs that may not turn into careers, but can provide valuable experience and extra cash during your summers away from school. Get exposure to different ways of life The National Park Service maintenance crews always worked in teams of two or three people. The time they spent in the truck together going from site to site was time to talk about anything they wanted. Even at the age of 18, my ex-boyfriend knew he wanted to be a writer. He was fascinated by people and their stories, and has since published a novel.  The men he worked with were Cape Cod natives, and much older than him, so it was the perfect opportunity for him to learn about their experiences and perspective on life, which was much different than that of his upper-middle class family. Essentially, he was collecting material, which allowed him to overlook the griminess of cleaning toilets. Any job that entails driving around a lot, either with other people in the car or to their homes, can expose you to different types of people and broaden your perspective, showing you that we are all more alike than we are different. Jobs like Uber driver, baby sitter, delivery driver, can be choi ces that get you out of your comfort zone and provide the opportunity to hear interesting personal stories. Learn what you don’t want For me, the biggest lesson from working in a restaurant was learning that I didn’t want to work in the restaurant business. The daily grind of food prep, taking orders, making sandwiches, scooping ice cream, and cleaning up felt like a treadmill. It certainly wasn’t why I was going to college. I also learned that I didn’t like a public-facing role: I disliked taking customer orders and running the cash register, but I didn’t mind standing at the sandwich-making station all day. I also tried my hand at waitressing, which was more of disaster for me than running a cash register. When I was ready to look for jobs after college, I already knew that I would rather work behind the scenes than in front of people. Knowing what you don’t want is valuable information in the path to finding what you do want. Make lifelong friends My neighbor Ben worked in the photo department at Sam’s Club when he was in college. It doesn’t relate much to his job in software sales now, but he told me that he met two of his best friends there. Ten years later, he still counts these men among his best buddies. I can attest to the same experience from my summer jobs- I met my first boyfriend at my high school summer job at an amusement park, and some lifelong friends at those restaurant jobs. Understand group dynamics Being a multigenerational and/or multicultural work situation can provide lessons about group dynamics that will carry forward into the rest of your career. My friend Chris Pielher, @TheChrisPiehler,  now a writer and comedian, taught horseback riding at a summer camp while in high school, and said, I was the only boy on a staff of 8-10, so it was great experience in seeing the dynamic among a group of women. It also made me comfortable around women.” That’s a pretty valuable skill for a teenage boy. For me, the group dynamics of the restaurant business taught me that everyone working together in what they are most suited to do is what makes an operation run smoothly. That’s not much different than the corporate world, where teams can consist of engineers, account managers, marketers, operations staff, and finance staff who work together to produce a product that clients want to buy. Learn patience If your summer job entails working with children, animals, handicapped people, or the elderly, you will most certainly learn patience. Chris said of being a horseback riding instructor, Working with the kids taught me that kids who seem scared can build confidence quickly with the right instruction and the right pony. Handling horses requires you to be quiet, calm and clear in what you want from them.” Being patient with people and animals gives you a heartfelt sense of confidence in the effectiveness of your work. Jobs as a nanny, babysitter, dog walker, or animal trainer, can all help you learn patience. Get fun perks Many jobs that seek to hire teens such as those at amusement parks or movie theaters offer perks. Restaurants also usually offer free or discounted meals. David Spark, @dspark,  now a media consultant at Spark Media Solutions, had a summer job that entailed popping 75-100 garbage bags of popcorn a day at a multiplex theater. He’s doubtful that he learned any skills at that job, but he said, I got to see tons of movies for free, bring all my friends for free, my family could go see movies for free, and I could eat all the popcorn and drink all the soda I want.” For $4.00 an hour back in the late 1980’s, those were badly needed perks. When interviewing for your summer job, ask what perks they offer. Great jobs to gain fun summer perks include amusement park jobs and movie theater jobs. Whatever type of summer job you seek, know that you will learn something important while earning moneyâ€" whether it’s a new skill, exposure to different people and situations, or even a personal discovery about which job not to do next summer.

Succeeding at Work

Succeeding at Work Succeeding at Work

How to Find a Company Thats Right for You (and Work Happily Ever After)

How to Find a Company Thats Right for You (and Work Happily Ever After) How to Find a Company Thats Right for You (and Work Happily Ever After) Are you seeking employment in some of the most competitive fields around like finance, investment banking or consulting? No one really feels enamored with spending countless hours researching and digging up potential employers just to find out the openings are not their cup of coffee. There are dozens of different companies that may look alike but often represent very different work environments. Its too easy to get lost in a seemingly infinite pool of job postings.  But if you do your homework on your potential employer first, it will help you get much closer to landing a job - and save your time, too. In fact, a few  hours of systematic research can make all the difference. To make this process effective, you need a smart and systematic process that will help you target key employers that will be most likely to hire you. 1. Reconsider your job searching method When you’re searching for a job, some experts will tell you to cast a wide net. The more places you apply to, the more positive responses you’ll get, right? Well, not quite. Youre just scratching the surface. Heres how things really work: The more companies you will try to apply to, the less effort youll be able to put into each one.  The advantage can easily turn into a disadvantage, eventually crippling your chances of scoring a job.   So dont waste time by sending off dozens of generic resumes to employers that you dont really want to work for. Theres no point in that. If you want to succeed, you simply need to know what youre doing in every single step of the job searching process. 2. Create a list of employers One of the hardest parts of the job search is creating the list of possible employers you want and need to reach. Yet, it’s all about prioritisation - knowing what you want from your future employer and reflecting that in your job search. Sit down and think of all potential employers. Identify your chosen career field. Then identify companies you already know about and would like to work at. You can use search engines like Google or Bing to broaden your list. Once you have a specific field you’d like to work in, google a  Top 50  or  Top 100 list to work from. If its necessary, you can target this initial list by geographic region, type of contract or other factors that pertain to your situation. Sift down through the list, choosing only the relevant companies, and put at least 20 names on your list. 3. Research the target companies Before you apply, try to zoom in at individual companies and see what you can learn. Here are just a couple of company evaluation websites you shouldn’t definitely miss out on: Fortune: Fortune’s list of 100 Best Companies to Work For is a valuable resource for anyone wishing to do more than just scratch the surface. You can filter companies by salary, a number of perks or the amount of paid time off. The website also offers focused lists such as 50 Best Workplaces for Parents, Women or Millennials. Glassdoor: It’s never been easier to find out information about a company before you apply. Glassdoor is an incredible resource where employees can leave anonymous information about their salary, benefits, opinions of their employers, and plenty more. Also, dont forget to check out the list of Glassdoor.com’s Best Places to Work,  you can even filter by the city or size of the company. Inc. 5000 the 5,000 fastest-growing companies in the USA, measured by the three-year revenue growth rate. If you want to work for a company that’s slightly smaller - but not too small - check this website out. Vault: Find out what its really like to work within an industry, company, or profession, and how to position yourself to start, advance, or change your career. The website offers a plethora of rankings, ratings, and reviews on thousands of top employers and hundreds of internship programs. Forbes Global 2000: A list of the world’s largest companies, by total annual sales, updated every year. The website also features specialised lists with Best Employers for New Grads, Diversity or Women. Company websites: Last but not least, don’t overlook the importance of a company’s website. It might seem banal, but this is a great starting point where you can find a directory of the people you’ll work with or those you’ll be applying to. And knowing who you will have the pleasure to deal with can help you better craft your resume, too. 4. Use the power of social media Social media has many functions, but few know how to use them to score a job they want. Remember, companies are made up of people and so are social media. It’s a world of its own, perfectly apt for networking as well as some in-depth research.   Anyone who means something in the business world is there, recruiters are lurking around the corner and almost every adult person equals an employee that can be willing to share some information. Don’t hesitate to use this to your advantage. Reaching out, making connections, and being a little more persistent is sure to give you an edge in your job search. Here’s how to go about it: LinkedIn: The professional network is a great tool to review company pages and find potential alumni or other valuable connections. Go to the company employee list and search using the name of your college or university. No luck? Try entering your high school or the name of your hometown. Needless to say, it’s far easier to strike up a conversation once you find someone with a common ground. So make sure to click the “3rd-degree connection” button to reach the largest number of individuals within a given company who share a connection with you. Facebook, Twitter, etc. Some career experts don’t see any value in popular social media platforms for job searching. Yet there’s a wealth of information online and you’d be a fool not to capitalise on that. Honestly, you simply never know what’s going to get you a foot in the door. Getting in touch with people who work for your target company is a great way to break the ice. After a while, you’ll be able to ask specific questions and start garnering that much-desired intel. 5.  Gauge your motivation Now that you’ve done your homework, look into yourself to see how motivated you are about each company on your list. Do this from a gut perspective rather than research. Trust your feelings. Rank each company from 10 (reading as “Holy mackerel! I am absolutely thrilled to work at this place”) to 1 (meaning “Meh, I’m not really interested ”). By doing this, youll have a pretty accurate picture of the employers that turn you on compared to those that leave you cold. 6. Find the openings Now it’s time to head over to Indeed, general job search boards and other niche boards to see which companies on your list have openings at the present time. If there’s an open listing, that’s fantastic. But don’t feel disappointed if a company’s not hiring at the moment. You don’t always need to wait for a job opening. Let them know you’re interested, they may get back to you with good news in a few months time - or even weeks, who knows? The worst thing you can do for your career chances is to give up before you ask. Don’t count yourself out until someone at the company says no first. Here are a couple of situations that require smart thinking: Problem?  The job is only listed for certain cities. Solution: Apply anyway. Ask if remote work is an option. Problem: You only have four out of five qualifications required for the job. Solution: Apply anyway. Ask if you can learn the rest on the job. Problem: It’s a part-time job only. Solution: Apply anyway. Ask if there’s a chance of transforming it into a full-time contract in the future. 7. Tailor your resume So once you have a handful of jobs right in front of you, you’re able to craft an impressive and highly relevant resume. Your resume can actually be the real game-changer if you let it do its magic.  There are several ways to achieve this. Demonstrate your achievements, feature situations that highlight your skill set and include your portfolio. Portray yourself as a well-rounded individual that is ready to embrace the spirit of the new workplace as soon as he walks in. Still, dont shy away from consulting our ultimate  step-by-step resume guide any time you feel like it. Ready for new adventures? When it comes to changing jobs, being cautious and choosy pays off. The company youll work for will have a tremendous impact on your professional growth. Take control of your own career path. Prevent yourself from closing a contract youll regret a couple of weeks later. In other words, dont miss the chance to carefully target your future employer. Through using your time to research the companies youre thinking to apply to, you will not only improve your chances of scoring the job. Youll also know more about the place youre heading and about  the future youre choosing for yourself. Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments!