Target Company List
A prioritized list of specific companies you want to work for, used to focus networking, research, and proactive outreach. Candidates with a target list apply more strategically and activate networking channels more effectively than those applying broadly.
A target company list is a curated list of 15-30 specific companies you've researched and identified as strong matches for your skills, experience, preferences, and values. **How to build one:** 1. Start with companies you already know and admire in your field 2. Use LinkedIn to find where your professional network works 3. Research competitors of companies you know 4. Use tools like LinkedIn Company Search, Glassdoor company ratings, or Crunchbase to discover well-funded companies in your space 5. Filter by: company size, growth stage, culture markers, role availability, location **How to use it:** - Check each company's careers page directly (often updated faster than job boards) - Set up job alerts for each company on LinkedIn - Identify your network connections at each company for potential referrals - Do deeper company research on your top 5-10 before applying - Track your outreach and applications to each company **Tiering:** Divide your list into tiers: - Tier 1 (5-10): Dream companies — high investment in research, networking, tailored applications - Tier 2 (10-15): Strong fits — thorough tailoring, moderate research - Tier 3 (5-10): Safety options — standard tailored application, less networking investment **Dynamic management:** Update the list as you learn more — remove companies where culture research reveals poor fit, add new companies as you discover them through networking.
Why it matters
Candidates who know exactly which companies they want to work for can activate network connections at those companies, catch new roles before they're widely indexed, and bring genuine specificity to interviews — all significant advantages over unfocused applications.
Candidate tip
For each company on your Tier 1 list, identify at least one employee you can connect with on LinkedIn — even a second-degree connection — before you apply, so your application isn't arriving cold.
Put this into practice with the candidate.so Application Tracker.
Learn more →Related terms
Job Search Strategy
Job SearchA deliberate plan for finding your next role — defining target roles, companies, and locations; building a network; managing applications systematically; and tracking your funnel. Job searching without a strategy is significantly less efficient.
Company Research
Job SearchThe process of learning about a company before applying or interviewing — including its products, culture, business model, competitors, recent news, and team structure. Good research improves your application quality and interview performance.
Networking
Job SearchBuilding and maintaining professional relationships that can lead to job opportunities, referrals, career advice, and industry knowledge. The most effective job search strategy — the majority of positions are filled through networks, not job boards.
Employee Referral
Job SearchWhen a current employee of a company recommends a candidate for an open role. Referred candidates have 3-4x higher conversion rates than job board applicants, and most companies have formal referral programs with cash bonuses for employees who refer successful hires.
Hidden Job Market
Job SearchJobs that are filled without being publicly posted. Estimated to account for 70-80% of all hires, they're filled through internal promotions, employee referrals, direct recruiter outreach, and networking before a position is ever advertised.