Creative Job Search: Researching a Company

Before you apply for a job at a particular company, you should learn as much about that company as you can. Researching the company will give you the information you need when deciding if this is a company for which you would like to work. Would employment with this company meet your career values?

Here are some sample questions:

1. What products/services does the company provide?
2. How many employees does the company have?
3. How long have they been in business?
4. Where is the company located? Does it have more than one location?
5. What is the company's mission statement or philosophy?
6. What is the company's financial situation? Is it making money?
7. Has the company undergone any downsizing in the last 5 years?

There are many sources that have information about employers. Below is a list of some of these sources.

• People who are working for the employer.
• Libraries: most have special sections on occupations, careers, and job search information.
• Colleges and university placement offices.
• Annual reports, advertisements, company newsletters, brochures. Often you can obtain these by contacting the company's public relations office or personnel department.
• Current newspapers, trade journals, and business magazines. Older copies of these can also be found in library archives.
• Internet: More companies are establishing their own "home page" on the Internet.

Useful information can be obtained by researching the company's name, product, trade or industry. This can be done for publicly and privately held companies. Publicly held companies are those that offer stock to the public. Privately held companies do not.

Information Sources

National Resources:

Million Dollar Directory Dun and Bradstreet

Standard and Poor's Register of

Corporation, Directors, & Executives

Ward's Business Directory of Largest U.S. Companies

Ward's Business Directory of Major U.S. Private Companies

Macmillan Directory of Leading Private Companies

Corporate Report Factbook

Minnesota and Regional Resources:

Leading Twin Cities Companies

Contacts Influential

Telephone Directories

Manufacturer's Directories by State

National Trade & Professional Associations, U.S.

U.S. Industrial Outlook

Chamber of Commerce Directories

Minnesota Directory of Manufacturers

This is just a partial listing of resources you may want to consider. Check out the Business Section in your local library and ask the librarian for assistance.