Career and Job Search Help Blog

So you want to create a resume mailing list?  Or maybe, you are courageously planning your COLD CALL campaign? But wait!  Where do you find your target companies?  You can't call every company in the phone book!  And besides,  you only want to target the companies that are most likely to be interested in you.  Is commuting to Moose Jaw really an option?  Geography counts!

The Toronto Public Library provides easy access to a wide variety of company directories and in-depth company information, in both print and electronic formats.

Company Directories

How will company directories help me with my job search?

Directories enable you to:

• Create a resume mailing list.
• Find company contact information for cold calling.
• Find contact information for companies that do not have a website.
• Provide basic information about companies such as number of employees, approximate sales figures, types of product or service the company offers.

Some directories provide brief profiles of the company and links to company websites.   This information can help you to prepare for the employment interview.

When should I use company directories?

You will be in a much better position to select the best directory(s)  for your job search, once you have a job search plan.  There are literally hundreds of free company directories out there.  Each directory may list thousands of companies.  A job search plan helps you to narrow your focus and make your job search more efficient.

Also, company directories tend to be organized by industry, or type of business.  They are not usually organized by occupation or type of job.  Because of this, you need a plan which identifies the industry or type of company you want to target.  Without a plan, you will have difficulty knowing which company directories to choose, and which companies within the directory to target. 

Developing a plan does require some research, but Library staff can help.   Research enables you to :

• Identify companies that are most likely to employ someone with your skill-sets and experience.
• Identify growing industries/companies that are most likely to have job openings.
• Determine the best geographical area to target.

For help with your job search plan, click here.  Also, consider speaking with a career counsellor at a non-profit community agency such as the TDSB Employment Resource Centres.  Click here for a complete list of community agencies that assist job searchers.

Where can I find company directories?

Company directories for a variety of industries are available in print and on the Internet. Some directories list many different types of companies, while others are specific to an particular industry.

• Some licensed company directories are available to you online through the Toronto Public Library’s website. Others are only available within a TPL branch.
• The largest collections of print company directories are available at Toronto Reference Library’s Business Information Centre and North York Central Library’s Business and Urban Affairs Department.
  Staff at both locations can help you to find the directories that are suitable for your job search.
• Free company directories for many industries are available on the Internet.

  To locate these web directories, go to the Toronto Public Library’s website www.torontopubliclibrary.ca and click on the heading Find Good Websites, Our Recommendations:

   
  

  This will take you to the main page of the Virtual Reference Library, a quick subject guide to the Internet for Library users, with a category "Business, Finance and Economics".

  

  Under the heading Business, Finance and Economics, click on Company Directories.

   
   Some directories are arranged by industry and some by location.

  

  Several company directory websites are listed under High Technology Industries. To view a sample directory , select Canada IT: Company Profiles. 

  

  Directories may differ greatly in the number of companies, amount of information per company and website design. The IT Company Profiles Directory allows users to search for IT companies by industry sector and company name.  Each company profile provides contact information (often with a link to the company website), a brief profile of the company and sometimes news about the company’s activities. 

  Sample All-Purpose Directories

  Canadian Company Capabilities    Large database, hosted by Industry Canada,  that incudes listings for companies of all sizes from most industry sectors.  Company records include links to the company's website, detailed description of the company's products/services, export information and more. See our previous post on this great resource.

  

  
  

  Yellowpages.ca  – http://www.yellowpages.ca/  – This website is helpful for finding businesses of all kinds across Canada, especially small service, consulting, and manufacturing businesses that are not included in most other commercial directories.  You can create customized lists of companies by keyword (business type) and city.   Many listings include a link to the company’s website.

  

How do I know if the companies I am contacting have jobs available?

A lot of people ask this question when they are first using company directories for their job search.  The answer is that a directory does not tell you if the companies it lists actually have jobs available now.  The directory simply gives you contact information for possible employers.  The more industry and labour market research you have done before using company directories, the more focused your search will be on companies with the most possibility.

Contacting the companies on your list is often the only way to find out if they are interested in hiring you.  Sometimes, only by making that call, can you convince a prospective employer that they need you!

Companies often list job postings on their websites.  In fact, companies typically list more jobs on their own sites than they send out to job boards or websites such as Workopolis or Monster Board.

In-Depth Company Information 

Where can I find in-depth information about particular companies?

Company websites – Look for information about what the company does, the "corporate culture," revealed in the type of language and images the company uses to describe itself,  the kinds of "value-added" programs such as training seminars, conferences, etc. that are available to their employees.

Company profile databases – Many free company directories on the Internet offer company profiles and news.  

The Library subscribes to company profile databases such as FP Online and Mergent Online 

The Scott's Ontario Business Directory is currently available on CD-ROM at the Toronto Reference Library and the North York Central Library.  The Scott's Online Canadian Business Directory will be available shortly at all branches.

Magazine & Newspaper Articles – Find articles about the company(s) or industry(s) you are interested in.  Full text magazine, journal and newspaper articles are available through the Toronto Pubic Library's homepage.  These can be accessed from home, through the Library's website.  You will need to enter you Library card and PIN numbers.

SEDAR – Annual reports, financial statements, news releases for Canadian public companies.

General business news – such as TV and radio business report,  or the business section of the newspaper.  Look for articles on companies or industries that are growing.  Growth in a company or industry may mean that jobs are, or will be, available.

Network – by attending trade shows, conferences etc. for your chosen industry.  Use social networking services such as LinkedIn and Twitter.  See our previous posts on Linkedin and Twitter. Talk to friends, family and colleagues from your previous employment.

Company Directories in Print

The Toronto Reference and North York Central Libraries house the largest collections of print directories. Staff will be happy to help you find the right directory for your job search or business needs. Here are just a few frequently requested directories:

Canadian chemical directory – Annual

Canadian Oil Register – Annual

Directory of retail chains in Canada - Annual 

Financial Services Canada – Annual

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