SIU Carbondale College of Business Career Guide

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RESEARCHING EMPLOYERS
The process of researching an employer is an essential part of the job search process yet it often goes overlooked.
Many job seekers take a “ready, fire, aim” approach without doing any homework first. They simply apply to as
many positions as possible regardless of whether or not they are qualified for a position or whether or not they even
want the position. Using this tactic is not an effective way to conduct a job search and usually results in a big was of
time-especially now when the job market is so tights. Keep in mind that you are competing for the same positions
as many others, so before you blast off your resume without any thought, take the time to do some research first.
It will pay off in the long run.
ƒ ƒ Major competitors and positioning in the market
ƒ ƒ Company history
ƒ ƒ Company mission statement
ƒ ƒ Career opportunities
ƒ ƒ Application procedures/deadline for application
Where do I find information about employers?
Below are just a few resources for finding the information
you need. Consult your Career Services Office for
additional resources.
1. Internet Resources
• The Employer’s Website is typically a great place to
find general information about a company as well
as career opportunities. Many times an employer’s
website has a special section devoted solely to career
opportunities.
• Job Search Assistance Websites such as
contain valuable information
about employers and also provide you with an
option to post your resume online, search through
available job opportunities, and link to the
employer’s website.
• Industry Websites. It is helpful to have an overall
“big picture” view of the field or industry your are
interested in. For instance, if you are interested in
Pharmaceutical Sales, you may wish to do some
general research on the industry to find out the
average entry-level salary, employment outlook,
required training, trends, etc. Below are some
websites that may be helpful:
» » Occupational Outlook Handbook from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.bls.gov/ooh
» » U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop:
» »
Why is researching an employer so important?
ƒ ƒ Helps you identify organizations that match up with
your career goals. In addition, you never know what
you may find while you are conducting research. You
may discover employers that are hiring that do not
utilize traditional methods of advertising available
positions.
ƒ ƒ Helps you target your resume and cover letter to the
position you are applying for which increases your
chances of getting an interview.
ƒ ƒ Helps you sell yourself as a viable candidate. The more
you know about an employer, the better your chances
are of being able to communicate how your skills and
abilities match up with the employer’s needs.
ƒ ƒ Employers are looking for candidates that show a
genuine interest in their company. Communicating
to an employer that you know something about their
company shows you are enthusiastic and interested.
ƒ ƒ Helps you answer the commonly asked question,
“Why do you want to work for our company?” If
you don’t know anything about the company your are
interviewing with, how will you be able to answer this
question?
ƒ ƒ Helps build confidence during an interview.
Knowledge is power so the more you know about an
employer prior to an interview the more confident
you will be in an interview situation.
What do I need to look for when conducting research on
an employer?
ƒ ƒ Name, age and location(s)
ƒ ƒ Product lines and/or services
ƒ ƒ Parent company and/or subsidiaries
ƒ ƒ General financial picture of organization such as
recent mergers, acquisitions, stock picture, etc.
ƒ ƒ Recent events related to the company that have
been “in the news”
REMEMBER - it’s your job to demonstrate to an employer why you are the right candidate for a position,
not the employer’s job to try and figure out how you fit within their organization. Effectively researching the
employer can help you determine how your skills, attributes and strengths can be an asset to the employer.
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