Visit Employer Web Sites

STEP 1: Zero in on those employers that match your criteria:

• in a particular industry?
• in a particular geographic area?
• offering a particular set of benefits or opportunities, such as good training or mentoring, opportunities for quick advancement, or perhaps a generous retirement plan?

How do you identify these ideal employers? We offer two methods:

Method A: Works okay, takes less time

• Use CareerSearch to identify all employers in a particular industry within your geographic area. You can also specify companies of a particular size (for example, over 100 employees).
• This method generates a list of possible employers, not employers who match your criteria for a good employer.

Method B: Works great, takes time

1. The best resource is word of mouth. Speak with your networking contacts (including BC alumni listed in the Career Network) and ask them, "Who are the best employers in this industry, and why?" Attend meetings of professional associations in your field and ask for recommendations.

2. Check out Web sites like:
   • Vault.com and WetFeet.com, both of which offer "insider" perspectives on working at a wide variety of companies.

   Bear in mind, though, that most small-to-medium sized companies, even those considered to be excellent employers, will never appear on these Web sites.

3. Read the journals appropriate to your career field or industry. Keep a list of the more dynamic or progressive employers.
   • Read the appropriate trade journals. In the book publishing industry, for example, you would read Publishers Weekly.
   •  Ask you networking contacts what they read.
   • Read your local business journal.
   • The appropriate sections of your local newspaper (usually the Business section).
     
4. For top nonprofit employers:
   • You may want to check your local library for copies of In Search of America's Best Nonprofits and 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For (both are available at the Career Resource Library at BC).
   • You may also want to visit our Socially Responsible Companies web page.

STEP 2: Once you've compiled your list of prized employers, visit their Web sites

You'll often find a much broader range of jobs than on the "Monster.com's." If a Web site doesn't list jobs, call the company and ask how you can obtain a list of openings.

STEP 3: Be proactive.

• Try to identify the manager for whom you would work and send a resume directly to that person, as well as to Human Resources.
• Go the extra mile in tracking down information about the company.
• And call the HR department to see if you can set up informational interviews with current employees. Nine times out of ten, the company will be impressed by your initiative and interest.

We recommend working with a BC career counselor during this process.

Here's our final rule for your Internet job search: "Use as many job search strategies as possible."