Dallas has become quite a booming city when it comes to employment opportunity. That’s good news if you are seeking a job in Dallas. In recent years, Dallas has risen to become the fourth largest employment center adding 3M non-farm jobs (Wikipedia) in 2013. There are many industries represented, including real estate, consulting, technology, healthcare and transportation. Dallas is now competing with cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Not too bad… not too bad at all!

Whether you are moving to be closer to family, relocating for a specific industry or simply looking for a change of scenery, these three steps can help your Dallas job search.

Step 1 – Make a list

Making a company list is essential for mitigating information overload. The information on the web can be overwhelming, potentially adding to the fear and uncertainty already associated with a job search. So, as with any other type of big decision, organization is key to not being overwhelmed.

Write down your company list. I would recommend about 15 – 20 employers; however, the number is really personal preference and based on your circumstances. The idea, though, is to make a list. The list is important because it serves two purposes. One, it helps synthesize information to avoid information overload. Two, it is time-efficient. The process is similar to buying a car. Once you have researched the make and model of your favorites, you start to see them everywhere. When you make a company list, you start to see that job and connections to that job everywhere.

If you need help, check out the lists of employers below. According to the Dallas Business Journal in 2016, there is a growing middle market and the following are examples of the fastest growing companies in the Dallas area:

• Pinnacle Group
• Daseke
• Howard Hughes
• Nexstar Broadcasting
• Zoes Kitchen
• Gehan Homes Ltd
• Dave & Busters

These are just a sampling of the many companies that may be adding jobs to Dallas area. Also, here are the top 10 public companies that are doing just fine and headquartered in Dallas:

• Exxon
• AT&T
• Energy Transfer Equity
• American Airlines
• Fluor Corp
• Kimberly-Clark
• Southwest Airlines
• Texas Instruments
• Holly Frontier

Step 2 – Who do you know?

The next step is finding a person who works in one of the companies on your list. I recommend LinkedIn for this step. Connect with people from your Alma Mater. Navigate to “Network” and select “Find Alumni.” You can search by all sorts of filters including location, employer, or skill set. Reach out, let them know you are looking for a job and that you’d love about 20 minutes of their time. Another good way to reach out is by going to professional organizations in your current city. You’d be surprised how interconnected we really are. Remember, once you are looking, you start to see connections everywhere.

Step 3 – Prepare your professional brand

Hopefully with the first two steps, you’ve made some progress finding out how open the organization is to hiring. Don’t forget to search the company website and job boards for specific jobs you are qualified for. If so, apply. To do so, you need to brush up on your resume and cover letter. Here are just a few easy & fast tips for resume writing and cover letters: no periods on your bullet points, add dates to your education section, and have it reviewed by at least one person.

After these three steps, you should be looking good and feeling good about your job prospects. Until then, good luck with your Dallas job search!

If you feel that you need a little help with your job search please consider contacting a Dallas career coach.