When you wrote your resume, you structured it to appeal to a particular industry. Now you need to decide on specific companies within that industry that appeal to you.

From these companies, you will pick your "target" companies. Choose companies based on both personal and professional criteria you set. A lot of company information is public and can be found on the Web. Information you may expect to find on a company Web site includes:

• Benefits
• Cultural vocabulary
• Location
• Travel Requirements
• Management team and organizational chart
• Press releases
• Salary and current open positions

Once you have decided on the companies that appeal to you most, narrow your company search to three targets. This will allow you to conduct a more manageable search. Within these three companies, decide what department you would most probably report into and to whom (title), and send your resume directly to this department and person.

Now repeat after me: "The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. The shortest distance between ..." you get the picture. And sure, you should send a copy to their human resource department, too, just in case they are running like a smoothly oiled machine (rarely happens and don't count on it).

Keep in mind that 99 percent of resumes that a company receives are sent directly to human resources -- in some cases, hundreds of resumes a day -- so by the time HR gets around to reading your resume, calls you to do a preliminary interview screen, sends it up to the proper departments and for a second review, gets feedback from the department on their level of interest in you, calls you back to schedule an in-person interview ... of course you see where I'm going with this. Usually the exhaustive internal corporate administrative rules and processes create a deadly drag on the job seeker's objective, which is TO GET THE INTERVIEW!

How do you find out the names of department heads?

1. Call company directly and ask the operator.
2. Ask the operator for the department and ask the department.
3. Read the company press releases -- often available online.
4. Check their management team roster or organization chart -- usually available online, too.

There are many ways to access valuable information that will assist you in your search. Be resourceful, think logically, sensibly and creatively, and you will find your entrance into opportunity. Get off the "cow path."

Private Career Coaching Workshop With Ella Kallish

• How To Write A Resume
• How To Market A Resume
• How To Follow Up On A Resume Sent
• Beginning, Middle And End: An Interviewing Strategy
• Program Provides Opportunity For Continuing Ed
A Thought: Documenting Your Work Life

All Rights Reserved by Ella Kallish
Written By Ella Kallish
For more information on Ella Kallish go to AskElla.com.
Ella Kallish is available for corporate and group seminars.