Expert job search advice.

How to Build a Target Company List for Your Job Search in 2025

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15 out-of-the-box ways to build a target company list

A target company list is one of the most powerful tools a job seeker can use to stay focused and strategic during their job search. Without a clear direction, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of job postings or to waste energy pursuing roles that aren’t aligned with your skills, goals, or values. A well-researched target company list acts as your roadmap, guiding your networking efforts, outreach, and applications toward companies that truly fit your aspirations. Instead of passively waiting for the right job to appear, this list allows you to take control of your job search by proactively identifying and pursuing opportunities that align with your career goals.

Building a robust target company list isn’t just about casting a wide net—it’s about being intentional and strategic. Savvy job seekers know that having at least 20 target companies is key to unlocking a wide range of opportunities and maximizing their chances of success. This approach increases your visibility to potential roles, expands your network, and helps safeguard against the disappointment of placing all your hopes on just a handful of companies.

While many job seekers find it easy to name the first five companies that come to mind, building a robust list beyond those initial ideas can feel daunting. It’s common to hit a wall after identifying the obvious choices—but this is where creativity and research come into play. Expanding your target company list opens the door to new opportunities, broadens your professional network, and increases your chances of landing the right role.

We asked the experts.

We connected with some of the world’s leading career experts to uncover their strategies for building and researching a robust target company list. These professionals shared their insider tips, tools, and techniques to help job seekers identify ideal companies, streamline their job search, and uncover hidden opportunities in today’s competitive market.

1. Crunchbase

Crunchbase is an invaluable tool for identifying target companies because it provides deep insights into businesses across industries and offers unique features that simplify your research process. One standout feature is the “Similar Companies” tool, which allows you to discover organizations that are comparable to those already on your radar. For example, if you’ve identified a few companies you’re interested in, Crunchbase can help you uncover other players in the same industry, market, or niche that might not have been on your radar initially. Additionally, Crunchbase provides valuable information such as company size, funding details, leadership, and recent news, making it a one-stop shop for strategic research and networking.

Below is a screenshot from a free search conducted on Crunchbase looking for competitors of Perplexity (an AI-powered search company). Not only did Crunchbase share LILTInflection AI, and  Wiro.ai, but it also listed out but also highlighted lesser-known organizations such as FlashPCB and Choosito. For each company, Crunchbase provided detailed profiles, including their location, employee count, and contact information, making it a powerful resource for expanding your target company list.
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2. ChatGPT

ChatGPT is also a great tool because it provides quick results based on your preferences. We regularly use ChatGPT when conducting target company research for our clients. We’ve found that it’s a great starting point, but that the information is not always accurate.

Below are screenshots from two searches we conducted on ChatGPT with the results to give you an idea of what to expect.

3. Google Maps

Jon Shields, the founder of Job Search Database recommends finding prospective employers in your neighborhood by searching Google Maps for basic industry terms like “startup” or “manufacturing.” You’ll be surprised by the number of businesses all around you. Open company websites and bookmark their career pages and/or make note of their contact information. Look up executives and other employees on LinkedIn for networking purposes.

The image below shows a real search result from exploring Google Maps. In this example, we began our search by using location (Birmingham, AL), then entered our keywords “startups” + “Content marketing.” This search uncovered nearly 100 businesses, locations, and contact information.

4. “Look for feeder companies”

Jon also suggests adopting the “Minor League” approach to your job search strategy. Just as most baseball players earn their “stripes” in the minors, you can build your career in similar fashion. The Gwinnett Stripers, for example, are the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Triple-A is where stars like Ian Anderson, Max Fried, and Adam Duvall have honed their skills before making it to the majors. It’s also where injured major league players return to get back to full health.

Shields suggests that if you have a dream company that feels out of reach (e.g., the Braves), use LinkedIn to browse the profiles of current employees in your field and see where they worked before they got “called up” to your dream company (e.g., the Stripers). Look for any patterns that emerge and pay special attention to companies in your dream company’s exact industry. Use this list of feeder or “minor league” companies to expand your target list of employers.

5. INC 5000 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies List

Biron Clark, Founder of Career Sidekick, recommends using the INC 5000 list of Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies to identify target companies for your job search. “This is a great way to find high-quality companies that are on the rise. You can filter the list by state, city, and industry, which allows you to target businesses that align with your career goals and location preferences.”

Clark emphasizes that joining a fast-growing company can significantly accelerate your career trajectory. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to try new things, take on new responsibilities, and position yourself for raises and promotions.” Reflecting on his own experience, Clark shares, “I used this strategy when I joined my first recruiting company, a small start-up outside of Boston. Within two years, we had doubled in size. I was promoted to Project Manager with a $10,000 pay increase, sat on the panel to interview new candidates, and had the chance to mentor and train new employees. All of these experiences led to a $15,000 raise when I moved to my next recruiting role, proving how fast-growing companies can fuel both your career and your salary.”

6. Job boards for company research

Biron also recommends using job boards as a research tool.

“You don’t have to apply through the job board; in fact, you’re better off trying to reach the employer through your network or applying directly via email if networking doesn’t work.

However, job boards help filter job listings by location and other criteria, allowing you to quickly find companies in your city and industry. Plus, if you see a company has posted a job recently, you know they’re actively hiring.”

7. The Org.com

TheOrg.com is one of our favorite websites for corporate sleuthing. Not only does this website give you organizational charts but they also present similar companies. The website allows users to explore company hierarchies, find executive leadership, and identify decision-makers, which can be invaluable when you’re looking to network or understand the internal dynamics of a business. With its user-friendly interface, TheOrg.com provides easy access to organizational charts and profiles, making it simpler to pinpoint the right contacts, understand reporting relationships, and uncover potential opportunities.

Below is a screenshot from a query we ran using the free version. We pulled the org chart for Freshworks, a customer engagement tool, and found suggested companies at the bottom of the results.

8. LinkedIn’s Pages People Also Viewed

Brigid Leishman, a career coach based in Australia, recommends using LinkedIn for target company research. She suggests searching for a company and visiting its LinkedIn company page. On the right-hand side of the screen, you’ll find a section titled “Pages people also viewed,” which provides a list of similar companies. This feature can help you discover and research additional organizations aligned with your interests.

9. Pitchbook

Tim Windhof, Executive Resume Writer and Founder of Windhof Careers, recommends using PitchBook for targeted company research. He explains, “One resource I frequently suggest to my executive clients for building their target company list is PitchBook.com. This Seattle-based platform offers a robust suite of data software, research, and analysis tools, providing extensive insights into Venture Capital, Private Equity, and M&A transactions. PitchBook covers both public and private companies, firms, and key individuals, making it an excellent tool for exploring companies and recent merger trends beyond what LinkedIn typically offers. In addition to identifying and researching potential target companies, you can often find contact details for senior leadership teams at those organizations. While PitchBook is primarily a subscription-based resource, it does offer the option to request a free trial.

10. Regional Lists

Madeline Mann of Self Made Millennial recommends leveraging local business lists to identify potential employers. Once you’ve defined the industries and regions you’re targeting, you can use these lists to discover companies that align with your goals. For example, if you’re interested in the technology industry in Los Angeles, resources like BuiltinLA.com publish curated lists such as “Top 50 Los Angeles Tech Companies” or niche lists like “Top 15 Los Angeles FinTech Companies.” By visiting the websites of companies on these lists, assessing their fit, and exploring their open roles, you can uncover opportunities you may not find elsewhere

Some of our favorite regional lists include:

Built In NYC (https://www.builtinnyc.com) – Focused on tech and startups in New York City.

Chicago Inno (https://www.americaninno.com/chicago) – Highlights innovation, tech, and startups in the Chicago area.

Tiny Money (https://tinymoney.com/) Ted William’s highlights Charlotte, NC trends and business news.

Triangle Business Journal (https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle) The Triangle Business Journal features local business news about Raleigh/Durham

Austin Business Journal (https://www.bizjournals.com/austin) – Features local business news and company rankings in Austin.

Seattle Tech Blog by GeekWire (https://www.geekwire.com) – Covers tech startups and established companies in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

Denver Business Journal (https://www.bizjournals.com/denver) – Offers rankings, news, and lists of businesses in the Denver region.

Built In Boston (https://www.builtinboston.com) – Focused on tech companies and startups in the Boston area.

Silicon Valley Business Journal (https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose) – Provides business news and insights specific to Silicon Valley.

Atlanta Tech Village (https://atlantatechvillage.com) – A hub for startups and tech companies in Atlanta, offering lists and resources.

The Dallas Morning News Business Section (https://www.dallasnews.com/business) – Covers business news and features companies in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Portland Business Journal (https://www.bizjournals.com/portland) – Highlights businesses and industries in the Portland metro area.

Narrowing down industry specifics for a target company list

11. Venture capital websites

One effective strategy for identifying opportunities at start-up companies is to conduct a Google search for venture capital (VC) firms. Once on their website, navigate to the section listing the companies they support, often labeled as “Our Investments,” “Portfolio,” or “Our Companies.”

This section provides an excellent starting point for your research. We recommend focusing on regional VC firms, as it can be easier to network and arrange in-person meetings locally.

For example, if you’re based in Houston, you could conduct a Boolean search for “Venture Capital Firms in Houston,” which will yield results for firms such as Main Street Capital, Mercury Fund, and Rock Hill Capital. By visiting the “About Us” or “Portfolio” pages of these firms, you can learn more about their investments. Some VCs focus on local businesses, while others may specialize in supporting women- or minority-owned companies, or they may have specific industry interests, such as biotech or artificial intelligence.

For instance, after exploring the Mercury Fund website, we found a comprehensive list of the companies they support under the “Our Companies” section.

Using Boolean operators in Google searches is an excellent way to uncover valuable lists and databases.

For instance, searching for “filetype:pdf San Diego Venture Capital” yielded a helpful, albeit older, list of venture capital firms in the area.

Similarly, if you’re searching for a hospital administration job in Alabama, using the search term “filetype:xls List of Hospitals Alabama” could provide a useful list of hospitals in the region.

13. Companies Receiving Investments or Undergoing Acquisitions

Kelli Hrivnak, a recruiter with Knak Digital, advises job seekers to pay close attention to companies receiving investments, securing government grants or awards, or undergoing significant transitions, such as expanding services or shifting strategic direction. These financial infusions often signal growth, creating new opportunities for hiring.

Even in cases of mergers and acquisitions, companies may not only be restructuring but also scaling their workforce to support expansion. A fresh investment or funding round can indicate an increased demand for talent, particularly in key areas like operations, sales, and technology. Staying informed about these developments through business news, industry reports, and press releases can give job seekers a competitive edge in identifying promising opportunities before they become widely known.

Job seekers can subscribe to Google Alerts or bookmark news websites like the Wall Street Journal to learn more about M&A deals.

14. Informational Interviews

Conducting informational interviews with industry veterans or thought leaders is a powerful way to uncover new opportunities and identify potential target companies. Their deep industry knowledge can offer insights into emerging trends, company cultures, and unadvertised roles. They may also provide candid perspectives on a founder’s competence and reputation based on firsthand experience.

Joseph Liu, career consultant and host of the Career Relaunch® podcast, is a strong advocate for these conversations. He notes, “A live, one-on-one informational interview with a seasoned employee at a target company is often more illuminating. These conversations allow you to hear candid perspectives from people who may not be as forthcoming online, where comments are publicly visible.”

15. LinkedIn

All of the career Experts on this list agree that LinkedIn is a top place for job search research

LinkedIn is a gold mine for targeted research. It’s the largest professional online network with over 400 million users. Biron Clark, shared that one of his favorite tricks is to look at “similar pages” on the right-hand side of a company’s LinkedIn page.

I personally like to identify “people of interest” at company’s that I am targeting and look at their career history for ideas. I walk through how to do this in the video below.

Video on how to use LinkedIn to find companies for your target company list

If you’re looking for more help with your target company list, you can contact our team at Briefcase Coach to explore our target company research service here.

Author

  • Sarah Johnston Headshot

    Founder of The Briefcase Coach, Sarah is an industry “insider” and job search expert. As a former corporate recruiter, Sarah got tired of seeing talented high-achievers get passed over for opportunities because they did not have the right marketing documents or know how to position themselves in interviews. Since opening Briefcase Coach in 2016, Sarah has helped thousands of clients land top-tier jobs through the creation of executive documents and interview coaching. In addition to working one-on-one with clients, she also supports job seekers through her blog, social media posts and bi-monthly newsletter, Career Briefs. She has been named a LinkedIn Top Voice, one of HR Weekly’s Top 100 Most Influential People in HR, and a “top follow” by JobScan. Her company, Briefcase Coach was named “best resume writing firm for experienced executives” by Balance Careers.

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