Having an effective resume and cover letter is essential when applying to jobs. But how do you know if what you’re submitting is successfully targeting the employer? In order to ensure you are doing so you should research the employer’s goals for the position you want.

Below are different methods to researching an employer aside from the company’s website and Google search engine.

  • Social media such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter
  • Zoominfo  - free resource for acquiring company information
  • Google Alerts – great way to keep up with your target companies without actively searching for information
  • Forbes Lists – on the Lists page is a category along the right-hand side panel labeled Companies, and under that title are lists that could help you target companies
  • Fortune 500 List – CNN Money and Fortune magazine have teamed up to present an annual ranking of America’s largest companies
  • Google Finance – offers up-to-the-minute financial news, company summaries, key statistics, market summaries and quotes

For more information on these services, click here.

Your resume should also be compatible with a second audience – the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These systems search your resume for job relevant keywords and phrases.

Here are a few guidelines to building a scanner friendly resume:

  • Develop a list of relevant keywords
  • Use a standard heading
  • Build a keyword rich summary
  • Use standard fonts
  • Format properly

Your resume is what separates you from everyone else. Make sure to take all the necessary steps to ensure you stand out to the employer’s hiring managers and ATS.