Want a job at one of the world’s top 100 employers? Here’s how

Every year Fortune releases its list of the top 100 companies to work for. You'll find the usual suspects in there – Google, for example, tops the list for the seventh year in a row, thanks to perks such as free food and excellent healthcare coverage.

But what everyone wants to know is: how do you get a job at one of these companies? You're in luck. Fortune spoke to the heads of HR and recruitment at some of the organizations in the top 100 list to find out what they look for in a candidate.

The full list is available here, but this is a selection of the best bits, which might just help get your CV seen, nail the interview and get the job.

Do your homework

Shawna Beleckis, the senior recruiter at Hilton Worldwide, emphasizes the importance of background knowledge. Knowledge that goes beyond just a quick Google search. “The candidates that go the extra mile to read about the hotel, search on LinkedIn for those executive committee members’ bios and research the position requirements always impress me.”

Get social

Recruiting manager at KPMG, Courtney Hill, believes in the power of social media. “Candidates can impress recruiters by making themselves visible on social networks,” she said. This is about more than just having a LinkedIn profile you never update. It’s about being an active and focused user of social media, to concentrate on your areas of expertise, the companies you’re interested in, and communicating across your network.

Your personal brand

In essence you’re selling yourself, so make your personal brand strong and clear, argues Rod Adams, US recruiting leader for PwC. This means making clear how your skills can help the organization. “Your personal brand is what we find most helpful when comparing candidates,” he explains.

Kirsty Seidel, from Hyatt Hotels, backs this up. Creating great experiences for customers and clients means staff must be “willing to show their personal brand … this includes thinking differently and bringing an innovative spirit to the workplace”.

Be an ‘owner’

This doesn’t mean you’re going to take over the company straight away. Just that you’re “dedicated, loyal and always striving to do the right thing”, argues Marcy Hamrick from American supermarket chain Publix.

This means employers, from Goldman Sachs to WholeFood Markets, are looking for people with initiative and passion. At EY they look for leaders who are inclusive, and bring a passion for collaboration and diverse perspective.

Or, as Goldman Sachs’ Edith Cooper puts it, “self-starters with an entrepreneurial spirit.”

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