Post 200 Analysis: Business's bold new face More on the new guard The year in IPOs Changes to the Top 100 Changes in banking

By Steven Ginsberg
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 27 1998

Looking for a first job? A new job? Are you new to the area?

Well, if you're reading this, you already have a list of region's biggest companies and that means, in many cases, the biggest employers too. The 200 public companies profiled here employ more than 108,000 people in the Washington area. Therefore, the Top 200 provides a peephole to some of the best jobs around.

Looking for a career in hospitality? Notice that Marriott International Inc., Choice Hotels International, CapStar Hotel Co. and a handful of others are in there. The same is true for a host of other industries, from health care to telecommunications.

But exactly how can you use this list as a career guide?

"It's very hard in Washington to find these kinds of lists," says Howard Weizmann, managing consultant at Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a workplace consulting firm based in Bethesda. "This stuff is always valuable; it's a great start if you're looking for a job."

The first thing to do, Weizmann says, is to flip through these pages, read the company descriptions and highlight the companies that best complement your experience and interests. Keep in mind there are a lot of businesses in the Top 200 with which you may not be familiar. For instance, most technology workers have heard of PSINet Inc. and will think of the company immediately when conducting a job search. But other tech outfits – such as CACI International Inc., which has revenue more than double that of PSINet and employs about 1,600 people in the area – may be a better match.

The next step is to find out more about the firms, Weizmann says. These companies are publicly traded, so they put out annual reports, sales literature and other tidbits of information that you should get your hands on. Also use the Web site addresses to gain additional insight into the companies. In addition to basic corporate information, almost every company includes at least a year of press releases on its Web site. Read these to zero in on what's happening at each firm you're interested in.

There are other reasons to closely examine online information, says Mahan Tavakoli, director of Dale Carnegie training for the Washington region.

"Companies really think about Web sites," Tavakoli says. "You have to look really closely at the words they use. Check for words like 'entrepreneurial' or 'strategic,' or firms that emphasize a desire to be different," if that's the type of atmosphere you want.

The phrasing companies use to describe themselves is is a strong indication of the type of worker they're looking for. "It's not an accident that Marriott doesn't use words like that," Tavakoli says.

With this research as a backdrop, it's time to start serious job hunting. Write a cover letter and show that you've done your homework. If the company is moving into the telecommunications field and that's where your ambitions lie, write a paragraph or two about the firm's initiatives and explain how you'd like to be a part of them.

And remember, whatever information you find on the Web sites was put there by the companies. It's their own impression of themselves. It's also what they want you to think of them. Thus, you can use this material to flatter them in a cover letter or an interview.

The key, Weizmann says, is not to be shy.

"Go right to the top," he suggests. "Start with the CFO or talk to the president. That kind of boldness can tickle their fancy."

Weizmann recommends either calling executives or mailing a cover letter and re»sume» to their offices. Even if you can't get their direct attention, your information will sift down to the appropriate person, Weizmann adds.

(Little-known insider's tip: When re»sume»s filter down to the hiring department from the executive suite, as opposed to arriving from the mail room, they're generally held in higher regard. Whether or not you actually know the bosses, it looks like they're recommending you.)

If you're not comfortable with this somewhat brash approach, you can use the list as a phone book and simply call the company to find out who's in charge of the department you want to work in. The Top 200 also can be used as the basis for a mass-mailing list.

Another beneficial use of the list is that it clues you in to company movements. "Look for the trend information," says Ron Krannich, co-owner of Development Concepts Inc., a career consulting firm in Manassas Park. "If you see a company has had three bad years in a row and you're in turn-around management, that would be the way to go."

Scan the profit and employment figures to see which ones are growing. For example, Sunrise Assisted Living Inc. nearly doubled its local employee base from 970 workers in 1996 to 1,885 last year. That lets you know right away that it's on the upswing and the local opportunities are plentiful.

"We've enhanced all our recruiting and training efforts," says Kathleen Dezio, senior vice president for corporate communications at Sunrise. "Over the last year, we've been going all over the country looking for qualified people."

Before you get too excited about a firm it's useful to check its strength here. Harman International Industries Inc., for instance, employs more than 8,000 people, but only 11 collect their paychecks in this area.

"One thing that surprised me," Krannich notes, "is that some companies that are very, very large aren't that large locally."

Conversely, some of the biggest local employers are headquartered elsewhere. Check the list of the 10 largest local employers based outside the area – this section includes some of the biggest firms in the world, and local opportunities abound.

Another thing to keep in mind is that companies that dramatically increase their size are looking for all types of workers, no matter where their concentration lies. Almost every company needs human resources professionals, public relations representatives, marketing experts and scores of other types of employees. Sunrise, for example, is looking for a vice president for human resources, accountants and sales representatives, Dezio says.

Don't be limited by perception. "A company like Giant Foods has a lot of technical jobs," Tavakoli says. "General Dynamics needs a lot of creative people. You can set yourself apart because fewer creative people apply to firms like that." The Job Seeker's Matchmaker

Top 200 Briefs Contain Clues to Company Needs

By Steven Ginsberg

Washington Post Staff Writer

Looking for a first job? A new job? Are you new to the area?

Well, if you're reading this, you already have a list of region's biggest companies and that means, in many cases, the biggest employers too. The 200 public companies profiled here employ more than 108,000 people in the Washington area. Therefore, the Top 200 provides a peephole to some of the best jobs around.

Looking for a career in hospitality? Notice that Marriott International Inc., Choice Hotels International, CapStar Hotel Co. and a handful of others are in there. The same is true for a host of other industries, from health care to telecommunications.

But exactly how can you use this list as a career guide?

"It's very hard in Washington to find these kinds of lists," says Howard Weizmann, managing consultant at Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a workplace consulting firm based in Bethesda. "This stuff is always valuable; it's a great start if you're looking for a job."

The first thing to do, Weizmann says, is to flip through these pages, read the company descriptions and highlight the companies that best complement your experience and interests. Keep in mind there are a lot of businesses in the Top 200 with which you may not be familiar. For instance, most technology workers have heard of PSINet Inc. and will think of the company immediately when conducting a job search. But other tech outfits – such as CACI International Inc., which has revenue more than double that of PSINet and employs about 1,600 people in the area – may be a better match.

The next step is to find out more about the firms, Weizmann says. These companies are publicly traded, so they put out annual reports, sales literature and other tidbits of information that you should get your hands on. Also use the Web site addresses to gain additional insight into the companies. In addition to basic corporate information, almost every company includes at least a year of press releases on its Web site. Read these to zero in on what's happening at each firm you're interested in.

There are other reasons to closely examine online information, says Mahan Tavakoli, director of Dale Carnegie training for the Washington region.

"Companies really think about Web sites," Tavakoli says. "You have to look really closely at the words they use. Check for words like 'entrepreneurial' or 'strategic,' or firms that emphasize a desire to be different," if that's the type of atmosphere you want.

The phrasing companies use to describe themselves is is a strong indication of the type of worker they're looking for. "It's not an accident that Marriott doesn't use words like that," Tavakoli says.

With this research as a backdrop, it's time to start serious job hunting. Write a cover letter and show that you've done your homework. If the company is moving into the telecommunications field and that's where your ambitions lie, write a paragraph or two about the firm's initiatives and explain how you'd like to be a part of them.

And remember, whatever information you find on the Web sites was put there by the companies. It's their own impression of themselves. It's also what they want you to think of them. Thus, you can use this material to flatter them in a cover letter or an interview.

The key, Weizmann says, is not to be shy.

"Go right to the top," he suggests. "Start with the CFO or talk to the president. That kind of boldness can tickle their fancy."

Weizmann recommends either calling executives or mailing a cover letter and re»sume» to their offices. Even if you can't get their direct attention, your information will sift down to the appropriate person, Weizmann adds.

(Little-known insider's tip: When re»sume»s filter down to the hiring department from the executive suite, as opposed to arriving from the mail room, they're generally held in higher regard. Whether or not you actually know the bosses, it looks like they're recommending you.)

If you're not comfortable with this somewhat brash approach, you can use the list as a phone book and simply call the company to find out who's in charge of the department you want to work in. The Top 200 also can be used as the basis for a mass-mailing list.

Another beneficial use of the list is that it clues you in to company movements. "Look for the trend information," says Ron Krannich, co-owner of Development Concepts Inc., a career consulting firm in Manassas Park. "If you see a company has had three bad years in a row and you're in turn-around management, that would be the way to go."

Scan the profit and employment figures to see which ones are growing. For example, Sunrise Assisted Living Inc. nearly doubled its local employee base from 970 workers in 1996 to 1,885 last year. That lets you know right away that it's on the upswing and the local opportunities are plentiful.

"We've enhanced all our recruiting and training efforts," says Kathleen Dezio, senior vice president for corporate communications at Sunrise. "Over the last year, we've been going all over the country looking for qualified people."

Before you get too excited about a firm it's useful to check its strength here. Harman International Industries Inc., for instance, employs more than 8,000 people, but only 11 collect their paychecks in this area.

"One thing that surprised me," Krannich notes, "is that some companies that are very, very large aren't that large locally."

Conversely, some of the biggest local employers are headquartered elsewhere. Check the list of the 10 largest local employers based outside the area – this section includes some of the biggest firms in the world, and local opportunities abound.

Another thing to keep in mind is that companies that dramatically increase their size are looking for all types of workers, no matter where their concentration lies. Almost every company needs human resources professionals, public relations representatives, marketing experts and scores of other types of employees. Sunrise, for example, is looking for a vice president for human resources, accountants and sales representatives, Dezio says.

Don't be limited by perception. "A company like Giant Foods has a lot of technical jobs," Tavakoli says. "General Dynamics needs a lot of creative people. You can set yourself apart because fewer creative people apply to firms like that." The Job Seeker's Matchmaker

Top 200 Briefs Contain Clues to Company Needs

By Steven Ginsberg

Washington Post Staff Writer

Looking for a first job? A new job? Are you new to the area?

Well, if you're reading this, you already have a list of region's biggest companies and that means, in many cases, the biggest employers too. The 200 public companies profiled here employ more than 108,000 people in the Washington area. Therefore, the Top 200 provides a peephole to some of the best jobs around.

Looking for a career in hospitality? Notice that Marriott International Inc., Choice Hotels International, CapStar Hotel Co. and a handful of others are in there. The same is true for a host of other industries, from health care to telecommunications.

But exactly how can you use this list as a career guide?

"It's very hard in Washington to find these kinds of lists," says Howard Weizmann, managing consultant at Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a workplace consulting firm based in Bethesda. "This stuff is always valuable; it's a great start if you're looking for a job."

The first thing to do, Weizmann says, is to flip through these pages, read the company descriptions and highlight the companies that best complement your experience and interests. Keep in mind there are a lot of businesses in the Top 200 with which you may not be familiar. For instance, most technology workers have heard of PSINet Inc. and will think of the company immediately when conducting a job search. But other tech outfits – such as CACI International Inc., which has revenue more than double that of PSINet and employs about 1,600 people in the area – may be a better match.

The next step is to find out more about the firms, Weizmann says. These companies are publicly traded, so they put out annual reports, sales literature and other tidbits of information that you should get your hands on. Also use the Web site addresses to gain additional insight into the companies. In addition to basic corporate information, almost every company includes at least a year of press releases on its Web site. Read these to zero in on what's happening at each firm you're interested in.

There are other reasons to closely examine online information, says Mahan Tavakoli, director of Dale Carnegie training for the Washington region.

"Companies really think about Web sites," Tavakoli says. "You have to look really closely at the words they use. Check for words like 'entrepreneurial' or 'strategic,' or firms that emphasize a desire to be different," if that's the type of atmosphere you want.

The phrasing companies use to describe themselves is is a strong indication of the type of worker they're looking for. "It's not an accident that Marriott doesn't use words like that," Tavakoli says.

With this research as a backdrop, it's time to start serious job hunting. Write a cover letter and show that you've done your homework. If the company is moving into the telecommunications field and that's where your ambitions lie, write a paragraph or two about the firm's initiatives and explain how you'd like to be a part of them.

And remember, whatever information you find on the Web sites was put there by the companies. It's their own impression of themselves. It's also what they want you to think of them. Thus, you can use this material to flatter them in a cover letter or an interview.

The key, Weizmann says, is not to be shy.

"Go right to the top," he suggests. "Start with the CFO or talk to the president. That kind of boldness can tickle their fancy."

Weizmann recommends either calling executives or mailing a cover letter and re»sume» to their offices. Even if you can't get their direct attention, your information will sift down to the appropriate person, Weizmann adds.

(Little-known insider's tip: When re»sume»s filter down to the hiring department from the executive suite, as opposed to arriving from the mail room, they're generally held in higher regard. Whether or not you actually know the bosses, it looks like they're recommending you.)

If you're not comfortable with this somewhat brash approach, you can use the list as a phone book and simply call the company to find out who's in charge of the department you want to work in. The Top 200 also can be used as the basis for a mass-mailing list.

Another beneficial use of the list is that it clues you in to company movements. "Look for the trend information," says Ron Krannich, co-owner of Development Concepts Inc., a career consulting firm in Manassas Park. "If you see a company has had three bad years in a row and you're in turn-around management, that would be the way to go."

Scan the profit and employment figures to see which ones are growing. For example, Sunrise Assisted Living Inc. nearly doubled its local employee base from 970 workers in 1996 to 1,885 last year. That lets you know right away that it's on the upswing and the local opportunities are plentiful.

"We've enhanced all our recruiting and training efforts," says Kathleen Dezio, senior vice president for corporate communications at Sunrise. "Over the last year, we've been going all over the country looking for qualified people."

Before you get too excited about a firm it's useful to check its strength here. Harman International Industries Inc., for instance, employs more than 8,000 people, but only 11 collect their paychecks in this area.

"One thing that surprised me," Krannich notes, "is that some companies that are very, very large aren't that large locally."

Conversely, some of the biggest local employers are headquartered elsewhere. Check the list of the 10 largest local employers based outside the area – this section includes some of the biggest firms in the world, and local opportunities abound.

Another thing to keep in mind is that companies that dramatically increase their size are looking for all types of workers, no matter where their concentration lies. Almost every company needs human resources professionals, public relations representatives, marketing experts and scores of other types of employees. Sunrise, for example, is looking for a vice president for human resources, accountants and sales representatives, Dezio says.

Don't be limited by perception. "A company like Giant Foods has a lot of technical jobs," Tavakoli says. "General Dynamics needs a lot of creative people. You can set yourself apart because fewer creative people apply to firms like that."