Figuring out the names of the organizations to which you want to mail your resume is part of any highly successful job campaign. Don't depend on just answering ads, waiting for the ideal job to appear in a newspaper or magazine. Aggressively seek out a job in the companies you want to work for. Here is some information which you can use in researching the names of organizations for which you might be interested in working.
Most libraries have a variety of information available on various organizations throughout the U.S. and worldwide. Most of these materials are only available for use in the reference room of the library, but some limited items may be checked out. Listed below are some of the major sources to look for, but be sure and check at the information desk to see if there are any books available on the specific types of companies you wish to investigate.
The Worldwide Chamber of Commerce Directory
Most chambers of commerce annually produce a "list of major employers" for their market area (or city). Usually the list includes the name, address, and telephone number of the employer along with information about the number of people employed, kinds of products and services produced, and a person to contact about employment. You can obtain the "list of major employers" in the city where you want to work by writing to that chamber. There is usually a small charge.
The Worldwide Chamber of Commerce Directory is an alphabetical listing of American and foreign chambers of commerce. It includes:
- All U.S. Chambers of Commerce (with addresses and phone numbers)
- American Chambers of Commerce abroad
- Canadian Chambers of Commerce
- Foreign Chambers of Commerce in principal cities worldwide
- Foreign Embassies and Consulates in the U.S.
- U.S. Consulates and Embassies throughout the world
- Standard and Poor's Register of Corporations, Directors, and Executives
Volume I-Corporations. Here is an alphabetical listing of a variety of information for each of over 77,000 companies, including:
- name of company, address, telephone number
- names, titles, and functions of several key officers
- name of accounting firm, primary bank, and law firm
- stock exchange, description of products or services
- annual sales, number of employees
- division names and functions, subsidiary listings
- principal business affiliation
- business address, residence address, year of birth
- college and year of graduation, fraternal affiliation
Volume 3-Index.
- Moody's Manuals
- Moody's Manuals provide information about companies traded on the New York and
- American Stock Exchanges and over the counter. They include:
- Moody's Industrial Manual
" Complete Coverage. Companies in this section have the following information:
" financial information for the past 7 years (income accounts, balance sheets, financial and operating data).
" detailed description of the company's business including a complete list of subsidiaries and office and property sites.
" capital structure information, which includes details on capital stock and long-term debt, with bond and preferred stock ratings and 2 years of stock and bond price ranges.
" extensive presentation of the company's last annual report.
Full Measure Coverage. Information on companies in this section includes:
" financial information for the past 7 years (income accounts, balance sheets, financial and operating data).
" detailed description of company's business, with a complete list of subsidiaries and plant and property locations.
" capital structure information, with details on capital stock and long term debt, with bond and preferred stock ratings and 2 years of stock and bond price changes.
Comprehensive Coverage. Information on companies in this section includes:
- 5 years of financial information on income accounts, balance sheets, and financial and operating ratios.
- detailed description of company's business, including subsidiaries.
- concise capital structure information, including capital stock and long term debts, bond and preferred stock ratings.
Here is information on U.S. firms which are unlisted on national and regional stock exchanges. There are three levels of coverage: complete, full measure, and comprehensive (same as described above). Other Moody's manuals include: Moody's Public Utility Manual, Moody's Municipal and Government Manual, and Moody's Bank and Finance Manual.
Dun's Million Dollar Directory
Three separate listings (alphabetical, geographic, and by products) of over 120,000 U.S. firms. There are three volumes:
Volume 1-The 45,000 largest companies, net worth over $500,000
Volume 2-The 37,000 next largest companies
Volume 3-The 37,000 next largest companies
U.S. industrial directories
Ask your librarian to guide you to your library's collection of industrial directories. Almost every state produces a manufacturing directory, for example, and many libraries maintain complete collections of these directories. You may find information on products and the addresses and telephone numbers of industrial companies.
Thomas' Register of Manufacturers
16 volumes of information about manufacturing companies.
Volumes 1-8-Alphabetical listing by product.
Volumes 9-10-Alphabetical listing of manufacturing company names, addresses, telephone numbers, and local offices.
Volumes 11-16-Alphabetical company catalog information.
Information About Foreign Companies
If you'd like your next job to be overseas or with an international company, you can find much helpful information in the library. You approach these companies in the same way as you would approach U.S.-based companies.
Directory of Foreign Manufacturers in the U.S.
Alphabetical listing of U.S. manufacturing companies which are owned and operated by parent foreign firms. The information provided includes the name and address of the U.S. firm, the name and address of the foreign parent firm, and the products produced.
Directory of American Firms Operating in Foreign Countries
Alphabetical listing of the names, addresses, chief officers, products, and country operated in of U.S. firms abroad.
International Firms Directory
This lists foreign corporations.
Hoover's Handbook of World Business
This lists corporations in Asia and Europe.
Principal International Businesses
This is a comprehensive directory of international businesses.
Information Available From The Internet
Information about companies is also available through the Internet. You can use all the search engines to help you in your search for company information and company website addresses.
