A candidate who successfully researches a potential employer identifies the employer that fits her strengths. In addition, that candidate sets herself apart from others who have researched and are not knowledgeable about the particular company.
Reasons to Research Potential Employers
Researching a potential employer is important for many reasons. First, applicants need to decide whether the organization or company fits their criteria for an employer. If an organization's values do not match the applicant's values, the applicant should carefully consider whether or not to pursue employment there. Learning about the organization will help narrow the number of companies to which a candidate applies.
A well-researched job candidate demonstrates his interest in both the position and the organization and most employers recognize this interest. Finally, conducting research allows the candidate to effectively market his skills to a potential employer. Researching a company allows job candidates to tailor their resumes to fit a desired position or organization.
What to Research
A huge amount of information exists on different organizations and companiesIt is difficult to determine which information is useful. Start with locating basic information when researching companies. Where is the company located? Is there more than one location? How many people does the organization employ? Is the company a public company with multiple divisions or a small company ran by a single person? How long has the company been in business?
Look for specifics on the organization as well. What is the organization's mission statement? Who are the organizations key staff members? How fast is the company growing? What type of services or products does the company produce? Answer these questions to develop an accurate portrait of the potential employer.
Places to Gather Information
Information on an individual company is easily obtained. The Internet is an easy way to start the search. Use Google or another search engine to find the company website. Other search engine results are likely to give additional information. Often, news articles, press releases and customer reviews show up on-line.
Read publicly available company brochures and annual reports. These reports can tell the candidate the organizations mission statement, types of jobs available, and the health the organization.Contact the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the company. If there have been complaints, check to see how they were resolved. The resolution of complaints reveals volumes about how an employer conducts business.
Researching a potential employer benefits both the job seeker and the employer. Job seekers are better able to select those employers who fit with their career goals. Employers find candidates who understand the organization and the position. Conducting research creates a win-win situation for candidates and employers.
Peggy Crippen - With over fifteen years of social service experience, Peggy Crippen has worked with low income families, adults with mental illness and ...
