Why Research a Company?

 

The main goal in researching a company or organization is to gather information in order to make a more informed decision and to let the company know of your genuine interest. This allows you to discover if the company is a good match for you.  It also allows you to identify the needs of the company and market yourself appropriately.  Company research helps you show initiative and enthusiasm and, finally, it gives you confidence in answering questions during your interview.  The type of information you gather should cover the following:

 

• The Industry
• The Employer
• The Position
  

For example, if you had an interview with Pfizer, you would not only research the firm and what it does, but you would also want to learn more about the field of pharmaceuticals and what role Pfizer plays in the marketplace.  In other words you want to “know your prospective employer” and how they measure up within their industry.

Approach your research as a “project” and allocate time the same as one should for a research paper. Begin with the company’s website and look for the following information:

 

• Corporate Information
• Company Mission & Vision  (corporate culture)
• Board of Directors (if applicable)
• Leadership Team (CEO, VPs, Directors)
• Ownership Public or Private
• How many employees? International or Domestic?
• Position within industry (#1, #30) and Reputation
• Competition (Who are they?)
• Philanthropy
• News, Press Releases
• You must understand the position for which you are interviewing:
• Job Description
• What is the Department? (Sales, Marketing, Research, Accounting, Customer Service)
• How does that Department fit into the overall organization?
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Other Duties As Assigned (what else is expected of you)
• Salary or Commission (not the amount yet, but the pay structure)

• Days/Hours/Shifts etc.  (M-F 8-5 or other)

 

Check out our Career Explorations page for some great sites that can help get you started.