Blog · Search strategy and roles
How to build a target company list
Last updated 9 October 2026
Short answer. Build a list of 20 to 40 employers that hire your kind of role where you can work, rank them by fit and interest, and check their career pages regularly. A target list turns a reactive search into a planned one.
Where names come from
- Employers that posted roles like yours recently.
- Competitors and suppliers of your current or past employers.
- Companies your contacts work at.
Rank them
Three columns are enough: how well you fit their typical roles, how much you want to work there, and whether you know someone there.
Use it
- Check the top ten weekly.
- Reach out to contacts at the top of the list before roles appear.
Questions
Should I contact companies without openings?
A short, specific note to a relevant person can work; expect a low response rate.
How big should the list be?
Big enough to have weekly openings to check; 20 to 40 is manageable.
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See plans, from $9 a monthKeep reading
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By Vamsi Venkatesh · 2026-10-09