Target Lists

2 hr job search photo

A target list is a strategic tool that helps you stay focused, organized, and proactive in your job search. 

Using a target list in combination with networking is a crucial part of your job search strategy. Instead of reacting to job postings, a target list puts you in control, helping you identify and prioritize companies that align with your goals and offer strong opportunity potential. 

It is difficult for some job seekers to start this step, but once you get going you'll see how valuable it is. 

 

Build Your List

  • Start with companies you know and admire, then add competitors, suppliers, or similar organizations.
  • Use AI tools, directories, your networking, and other tools to keep expanding your options.
    • See the MANY options listed below in the Tools and Resources section. 

Focus on High-Potential Companies

Once you have a fairly long list, rate and rank them then select your Top 5 to focus on. 

Ranking criteria:

  1. You’re genuinely interested in their work and motivated to do the work to find contacts. This is key.
  2. They’re actively hiring, either in general or better yet in your area.
  3. You have (or can build) connections there.

Add other criteria if critical to you, such as availability of remote work or growth potential.

Use It to Leverage Your Network

Your target list is a networking tool. For your top 5 companies, search for:

  • Alumni from your school or former employers working at those companies.
  • LinkedIn connections or second-degree contacts.
  • Opportunities to engage with employees via events or content.

Once you identify these, you can initiate contact, request informational interviews, and eventually seek referrals. If you have a target list to share with your connections, it makes it MUCH easier for them to help you. 

See the Networking: Getting Started page for much more information. 

Organize for Action and Follow-Up

Create a tracking system to helps you avoid missed opportunities and keep momentum:

  • Company name and industry
  • Key contacts with LinkedIn URLs
  • Notes from outreach or research
  • Job openings and application dates
  • Follow-up timelines and status updates

Spreadsheets work well, as do online CRMs like TealHQ. The best system is one you will use. 

Keep Your List Dynamic

You'll add companies as you learn about them, and delete those you are no longer interested in. Maintaining your list weekly is a good practice. 

Motivate People to Help You

Create a Networking Resume/One-Pager or Open to Work document: Use this when networking:

  • These one-page summaries incorporate messaging about your experience and skills but also a list of target companies you are targeting.
  • You can give it to contacts, or attach it to a thank you note.
  • You can also use it to create an Open to Work post on LinkedIn (a custom one, not the default option!) 

Understanding what you want makes it much easier for people to help you. Plus it makes it easy for them to forward your information to the right people. See below for links to templates and instructions. 

 

Separator

Get Started Creating Your List

Start with What You Know

Begin your list with companies you’re already aware of. Think about past employers, competitors in your industry, brands you admire, companies you’ve seen in the news, or places your friends work. This builds a core group of familiar, relevant organizations.

Tap Into Your Network

Expand your list by asking networking contacts about companies they recommend. Alumni networks, LinkedIn connections, mentors, and colleagues can point you toward organizations you may not know—and sometimes offer insight into culture, growth, or internal openings.

Explore Who's Hiring

Use job boards for discovery; when you search for jobs, who is hiring? Even if they are not posting jobs in your field, if they are hiring overall they may be worth adding. 

Use LinkedIn for Discovery

There are several tools on LinkedIn to find potential companies: 

  • Company Search: put your cursor in the top search bar, then click Enter to see all the filters. Click Company at the top, the All Filters. Use the filters to narrow your search.
  • People Also Viewed: When you are on a company page look for this section to unearth similar companies you may not have considered.

  • Reading Others' Profiles: Look at where professionals in your field work, where they came from, and where they go next. These patterns can lead you to additional strong-fit employers.

     

 

Separator

Now Go Deeper

There are MANY options to unearth those gems you've been looking for, and not even AI will generate a comprehensive list. 

Use many sources to identify possibilities. See the long list of options below. 

 

Separator

Use Your List

Your target list won't help you unless you use it! 

That means reviewing it, ranking it, updating it, and finding people who work at those companies for outreach:

Separator

Tools and Resources to Help You

How-to Guides

Tools

AI Prompts

Databases

  • Library Databases: A library card unlocks a range of online directories you can search to build your target list. Anyone can get a Multnomah County library card. Once you have a MCL account, use this link to start your research. Other counties have similar offerings.
  • State of Oregon Business Directory: Qualityinfo.org from the Oregon Employment Department maintains a database of companies searchable by name, industry, or location.
    • How to search: Look for the symbols on the right to select how to search. Each symbol activates a different box of filters.
    • NAICS codes: These are standardized codes to categorize businesses. A 6-digit code is hyper-specific, while a 3-digit code is more general. When searching by industry, select Subsector (3-digit NAICS) to get what are generally considered industries, such as "apparel manufacturing."

Directories and Lists

Other Sources

  • By Location: Google Maps – search for [type of business]
  • Org Charts and Related Companies: The Org is the world’s largest directory of org charts; also suggests related companies.
  • Your network: Ask people in your network or get connected to others who work there!