Getting in Front of the Decision Maker

1. Be Nice. 

2. Ask Questions.

3. Do Research.

How much do you know about the company you want to have a career with? Note that "Career". Almost always, you will see career opportunities.  Because, frankly if a company and an individual come to mutual agreement, it can become a career.  

How do you do the research?

Well, let's break it down:  Do you want a HUGE corporation or a 'small' company?  HUGE corporations are well, big, and frankly it takes them some time to make a decision. There are regulatory hurtles, and some twenty or so layers of beauracracy when it comes to a hiring process...well maybe not, but sometimes it seems like it. 

Read their annual report? What? That's huge,  why would I do that?  So when you walk into an interview, or  you are asked, "What do you know about our company?" - you can reply. "You are the third largest government contractor, I know you won a XMillion dollar contract for providing services to the government for Y.  On top of that I know that you have a backlog on contracts that is allowing the company room for growth, your P/E ratio is 10.7 and your earning per share  is .30. To that end, I believe that since you were established in 19XX, and have shown growth rates of up to 23% a year, it gives me an opportunity to continue helping the company continue down that path of growth and profitibility". Their website is a great place to start with as well, read their 'media releases' as well. They provide the latest 'wins' a company has.

Small companies move quicker, there are less layers. Fact is since companies are small you may find yourself with more interviews with potential team members.  But how to find out about the company?

Start with the About Us page on their website; find out who the corporate officers are, google and for that matter read all of their website. Get familiar with the company; do research find out who its largest partners are. And when asked "What can you tell us about our company?"  You can respond you know that they were established in 19xx they have partners of XYZ and that they are poised on growth; you have noted they are on contract with the gov't for, read about the position they have open, and respond about how your skills meet or exceed their requirements."

And how do I find out who's hiring? www.govtcontractorjobs.com