How to Choose a Company, and Then a Job (2024)

When you’re looking for a new job, it can seem instinctual to focus your search on a specific job title and position. But what if you searched for a company you’d like to work for first and then focused on their available jobs?

Here’s how to choose a company to work for—and why it matters.

How to Choose a Company to Work for: 6 Tips

Starting your job search by company helps you zero in on a career that is more likely to be fulfilling personally, rather than just landing a job. Why? A job is so much more than just a title and duties. A company’s workplace culture, opportunities for career growth, industry, and overall “feel” play a huge role in job satisfaction. These six tips can help you prioritize your job search to find the perfect company for you.

1. Start With the Industry

Before you dive into searching for companies, choosing an industry can be the perfect starting point. For example, if you’re a writer with a background in education, you can begin with the educational field and find companies within that industry. This will not only ensure that you’ll be interested in the subject matter you’ll be writing about, but you’ll build industry expertise that you can carry from company to company.

Or, if you’re unfamiliar with (but interested in) a particular industry and don’t know which companies to target, the industry can be the first layer to peel back, helping you zoom in to the specific companies within the space.

2. Make a List

Once you know what industry you’re interested in, imagine the type of job you’d really like to have. It should be one that aligns with your skills and your passion and is also intellectually—as well as financially—rewarding. Instead of simply searching for a position with any employer, find those qualities first in a potential company. That way, you’re more likely to end up working with a company that has a culture that will be a good fit for you.

To begin, your ideal list should have no more than 15 companies that you’d be happy to work for. If those don’t pan out, you can replace them with new findings as you continue your search.

3. Do Your Research

After creating your list, be sure to research the companies to understand their corporate history. Go through their website(s) and read up on past CEOs and what they did to improve their company’s standing. Search for current info as well by reading interviews conducted with senior-level management or press releases published by the company.

This will help you confirm if this is a company you’d like to work for, and the information will come in handy as talking points you can use during your job interview.

4. Find an Angle

As you narrow in on each company, come up with any unique angles you may be able to bring to the company and position. Or, evaluate your interests first, and then find companies that fit into those. Companies want people who are passionate about their mission, so if you can show them what you can bring to the table outside of your normal job responsibilities, they’ll be more likely to give you a chance.

For example, if you’re passionate and knowledgeable about real estate but work in accounting, you could look for jobs in accounting at a real estate investment company. Your knowledge, passion, and desire to learn more will portray you as an eager self-starter, which is beneficial for companies.

5. Start as a Customer

Companies want employees who understand their products or services, so think about which companies you already happily buy from or contract with and check out their job openings. Your insider customer or member knowledge can give you an edge in the application process and show them that you’re already on board with their goals and mission.

This won’t be possible in every situation, but if you can easily (and economically) become a customer before applying, you can gain a deep understanding of their mission. Just make sure that whatever you purchase would actually help in your everyday life so it doesn’t feel like you’re throwing money away.

6. Get Social

Once you have a good sense of what the company stands for and its goals for the future, it’s time to make a connection. Follow them on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and stay informed about any recent press coverage. You can even watch the videos they publish on YouTube to get insights into their company culture. Use social media in your job search, and be sure to stay active on company profiles.

In Good Company

Matching yourself with a company first and foremost will hopefully lead not just to a position but to a long-lasting, sustainable career.