How to Find Companies that Align with Your Career Values + Goals

There comes a time in a job search, where (after gathering some real time data) my clients believe me when I say – proactive networking is a more effective strategy than simply applying to roles on LinkedIn.

Then, some of them can get stuck right here.

So, where do I even look?

How do I find companies (outside of the usual suspects) that would align with what I’m looking for in a corporate culture or will offer opportunities to learn and grow within the organization?

Your two best resources in this hunt for the right-fit company are: your people and AI.

Your people: Your first round of networking will not be about finding “a job”, but more about crowdsourcing companies.

Who are your colleagues and friends in your network who appreciate and respect their organizations?

Who do you know who is well connected in the industry you want to be a part of?

Set a goal to identify 10-15 companies in this first round of networking and then ask your people for introductions within those companies.

AI: ChatGPT and Claude are also formidable thought partners in this exercise. I work with clients on the right prompts that get at their criteria for their "crush companies"…as I like to call them. A few recent prompts…

What are ten well reviewed organizations that are helping high school and college students live better lives?

What are ten companies in the NYC area that hire product management roles and prioritize professional development and work-life balance?

What are ten companies in NYC that don't think we need more masculine energy?

They’re not always perfect results – and they rarely get the joke, but they offer up a place to start your research. Overall – that’s how I’m currently working with AI in this process. I don’t accept the responses wholesale, but they often do get me unstuck and to a next step where I can deepen my understanding.

Let me know how these two approaches or a combination of them works for you in coming up with your list.