How do you zero in on marketing yourself to those companies and the executives within them who have the authority to hire you?

The Internet is a valuable tool for you to do research to explore companies and industries that are growing and have potential employment opportunities. To make the best use of your time on the web, learn to use search-engines effectively. A search-engine is a tool that allows you to find pages containing specific keywords and phrases on the Internet. When you enter a company name in the search-engine query box for example, it searches the web for pages with matching keywords and returns a list of results in order of relevance. Then, you click on the most suitable link in the list, usually the company's home page. The best site to find specialized search-engines and learn how to use them is www.searchengineguide.com. A leading search-engine to use is www.google.com.

In a company's home page, look for a Contact Us, About Us, Company Directory or similar link, or type a department name like Marketing or Operations in their internal search-engine. These actions often generate the names of managers for a department, division or region. Click on a Site Map link to choose from the site's pages listed according to subject. The Press Releases or What's New pages may also identify names, e-mail addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers of those managers or senior executives who would logically be involved in making hiring decisions. If no relevant company e-mail contacts appear, call the company to establish the name of the person who is the manager or the director of the department you would be in, given your skills and experience and the type of position you are looking for.

Another good approach is to search for an Association governing a particular industry. A great place to find links to numerous Association websites and other useful information is http://circ.micromedia.on.ca. Then, go to the chosen Association's Membership Listing page and see what companies or executives are listed. This is useful when you are sending out resumes within a specific industry.

Fee-based reference sources include www.dnb.ca -- Dun & Bradstreet in Canada which charges a substantial fee for each company profiled and www.scottsinfo.com -- Scott's Directories. You need to pay on-line to receive company profiles generated on these websites. Your local Reference Library may contain a printed version of one or more of Scott's Industrial Directories, saving you the on-line subscriber search fees. Check with your reference library first to see if they have the specific directory you require. They often list several executives per company profiled.

The best sites focused on Internet Job Research & Networking are www.rileyguide.com and www.eresumes.com. These sites link you to many other web resources available and offer excellent tutorials and guidance on self-marketing.

Sending your resume to the person who would likely be your reporting superior on an organization chart is targeted marketing. The person receiving your resume will be able to recognize the value of your skills and experience. This approach yields valuable contacts for networking. It also shows a potential employer that you are resourceful and career-focused.

Send a copy of your resume also to the Human Resources Manager or department. This is both courteous and practical as your first recipient may not be aware of other hiring opportunities within the firm.

Make the investment of time to research companies and industry associations on the Internet. You will discover and connect with the people who either can hire you, or who can guide you to the right career opportunity. 

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