Unleash the Job Search Killer App: Investigative Company Research

1
Unleash the Job Search Killer App Investigative
Company Research

• Co-presented by
• Maggie Bartley, MIT Libraries
• Sheri Brodeur, Hewlett-Packard
• Alisa Tongg, MIT Careers Office

2
Job Seekers Must Do Their Homework

• How frequently do job candidates demonstrate
  knowledge of your company or industry in their
  cover letters?
• Very Infrequently 30
• Somewhat Infrequently 30
• Somewhat Frequently 27
• Very Frequently 10
• Dont Know/No Answer 3

3
Id like to work here, but what exactly does your
company do?

• How frequently do job candidates demonstrate
  knowledge of your company or industry in
  interviews?
• Very Infrequently 9
• Somewhat Infrequently 29
• Somewhat Frequently 44
• Very Frequently 15
• Dont Know/No Answer 3

4
How does researching your future employer help
you?

• Increases chances of finding the best position.
• Determine if the company is financially sound.
• Discover the long-term prospects of the industry.
• Allows you to create a strong resume and cover
  letter.
• Grants you confidence and success in the
  interview.

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The process begins with assessing yourself

• Setting
• Skills
• Interest
• Values

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Values

• Prestige
• Security
• Variety
• Social
• Monetary
• Time
• Job Flexibility

7
Pieces to the 411 Pie.

• External projections
• Internal buzz
• Outside perceptions

8
Whats the word on the street?

• Analysis of trends and outlook on specific
  industries and companies.
• Am I hot or not?Is anyone talking about the
  organization?
• Financially Sound?
• Competitors?

9
Selecting Factors to Investigate

• Location
• Facilities
• Size
• Product or Service
• Financial Data
• History
• Strategies and Goals

• Management Employee Data
• Executive Biography
• Employee Morale
• Salaries
• Industry Outlook
• Corp public or private
• Subsidiaries Divisions

10
What to Know

• Size
• Locations, Multinational?
• Function?
• What services are offered?
• Main product lineif any?
• Standing/Funding in the industry?

11
Major Trends

• Eye on the future
• Goals and Strategies
• Expansions

12
Clients

• Client Profile
• Major Competitors

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The Stats

• Resource Hoovers
• Size
• Location
• Competitors
• Key Personnel (bios and salaries)
• Geographical locations
• Industry Lists and Major Players

14
Using the Stats

• Locations desirable?
• Understand the product?
• Contacts for creating your own opportunities.

15
The Inside Scoop

• Thomson Research
• Annual reports
• Strategies and Goals
• SCC Filings ( info)
• Health Markets
• Purpose of business
• History
• Expansions

16
Let the Scoop give you an Edge

• Financial stability.
• Future of business niche.
• Projects and divisions of special interest.
• Product do you understand it?

17
The Players

• Standard Poors
• Whos 1 in industry, and why?
• Geographical hot spots?
• Trend outlook, how adaptable are you?
• What additional skills will you need to have?

18
Public Opinion

• What are outsiders saying?
• LexisNexis Academic
• News articles about company
• Hard to find Private Companies
• Reputation (product, company culture etc.)
• Buzz
• Look at Source

19
Business Source Elite

• Datamonitor reports
• Some private companies included
• Corporate culture

20
As you search

• Set priorities and rank factors.
• Take thorough notes.
• Watch the authority of your source.
• Realize that everything is not written down.

21
Get Started Early

• Retain information
• Determine fit or organization as well as
  position.
• Jump on opportunities

22
Employer Perceptions of researching their
organization

• Reflects interest and enthusiasm
• Shows that you understand the interview process.
• Common knowledge base makes you a participant.
• You take your needs and preferences seriously.