Target your market

Research can help you decide which field to go into and is a way to develop a list of your target organizations. Then you will decide how to contact them, and you'll measure your progress against your list.

Research will improve your networking and interviewing skills and increase your confidence during interviews. You will create a good impression and look like an insider rather than like someone who is trying to break in. Research will give you an edge over your competition and help you decide which organization to join.

Library research

Find a university or big-city library that is conveniently located and has an extensive business collection. You will not be completely on your own: Librarians often are experts at helping job seekers, so plan on spending some time with the business reference librarian. Be specific. Tell the librarian what you want to accomplish.

Armed with your list of organizations, you have lots of choices. If your target market is large, then you can conduct a direct-mail campaign. Or you might divide your list to conduct direct mailing to 60 organizations, and then conduct a targeted mailing with follow-up phone calls to about 20.

You might decide to network around to determine specific characteristics of interesting organizations.Ultimately, research will result in your personal marketing plan, which constructs definitive parameters to guide you through your search.

—Kate Wendleton

President, The Five O'Clock Club