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Last Updated on January 31, 2025
If you’ve got to work (and most of us do), why not work for one of the best companies? Your
“Best” can be defined in many ways, so it helps to list what is most important to you.
There is much to consider, such as your industry and where you are located. Company career sites are a powerful source of job openings (what’s better than going right to the source?). Almost every job that recruiters are trying to fill is either sitting with other recruiters or is listed on an internal company career site.
Discover what makes a company great to work for and how to find the perfect fit for your career goals. Explore benefits, culture, and growth opportunities. Unlock insights into top workplaces and tips for landing your dream job. #CareerGrowthClick To TweetWhat This Article Covers
- Defining the Best Companies: Learn how to identify the best companies to work for based on your personal values and career goals.
- Creating Your Target List: Discover how to build a personalized list of companies using research and popular “Best Companies to Work For” sources.
- Utilizing Career Sites: Understand how to leverage company career sites to find job opportunities directly at your chosen organizations.
- Maximizing Social Networks: Explore strategies for using LinkedIn and other platforms to connect with employees and enhance your
job search . - Preparing
Your Resume : Find tips on updatingyour resume to stand out and align with the specific companies on your target list. - Acing the Interview: Learn how to prepare for telephone, video and in-person interviews, including research and mindset strategies.
- Finding Local Opportunities: Discover resources like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to identify companies in your area.
- Personalized Interview Coaching: Understand the benefits of coaching to boost confidence and improve your interview performance.
Best Companies to Work for Sources
You’re familiar with many “Best Companies to Work for” lists. All of these lists are well-researched and include their criteria. Look at these lists (they will help you make your list). There are quite a few lists, but a few of the more popular lists are:
- Glassdoor.com – Best Places to Work
- Fortune.com – Probably one of the best-known lists – 100 Best Companies to Work For
- Builtinnyc.com – A few lists are included here – The Best Places to Work
- Indeed.com – Top-Rated Workplaces: Best in Compensation/Benefits
- Womansday.com – The Best Companies to Work for in the World
Making Your “Best Companies” List
Looking at the lists highlighted above, hundreds of companies are rated “best” for one reason or another. But you need to make your list of the best companies based on your criteria. So, in addition to the lists above, where else should you look?
- Do your homework – (see 9 Reasons Why I Won’t Hire You). Spend time researching companies in your industry or field and make a list of target companies.
- Leverage your social networks – (see Leveraging Social Media in Your Job Search)
- Use well-known online resources – Glassdoor.com has a great company research section. Also, look at Hoover’s, and don’t forget LinkedIn.com.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce – Sounds a little old-fashioned, but this is another great resource for finding local companies (visit their site).
This comprehensive careers handbook is packed with ideas and inspiration to set you on the right career path. Tailor made to suit your individual strengths and interests, you’ll work out where you want to go and the exact route to take.
Next Steps in Your Job Search
Once you have your list, you need to plan your next steps. How do you plan on getting interviews at companies on your list?
- Find Your Contacts – Borrowing from the “leveraging your social networks” above, now is the time to use your LinkedIn list of connections. Who on your list works at one of the companies? Who do you know that is linked with someone from one of those companies? Make your list of contacts.
- Review and update
Your resume – You need to have a Killer resume; no matter how great your resume is, it’s time to give it a full review. Some resources you should consider:
Company Career Sites
Why not go directly to the source to search for work using company websites? This is an effective
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What Else Do You Need?
What about interview preparation and questions? This critical step is often overlooked in a
You’re ahead of the game if you’re confident in your interview skills. If not, it may be time to consider personalized interview coaching. This tailored guidance can help you improve your responses, build confidence, and increase your job chances. Add interview preparation to your plan today and set yourself up for success in every step of your
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- The Screening interview – Almost all screening interviews are telephone interviews. Don’t take this lightly. Prepare for your telephone interview like an in-person one (see How to Ace your Telephone Interview).
- Your in-person interview – The first thing to be aware of is that often; it’s not your lack of ability that leads you to defeat in your interview – it’s your nerves and mindset in how you approach the interview. So, let’s look at some friendly advice on shifting your paradigm to tackle your tense state.
- There are many more opportunities out there. Don’t interview as if you are desperate.
- Research your interviewers, and learn as much as you can about them.
- See if any of your friends know the interviewer.
- The most important question to answer (even if it’s not asked) is – “Why do you want to work here?”
Job Search Gear
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