Researching companies and organizations provides many advantages to your job-search process. For example, it enables you to tailor your resume and cover letter more specifically to the position for which you are applying, it allows you to prepare more effectively for the interview, and it provides you with an established base of knowledge from which questions can be asked and to which information can be added. These activities ultimately benefit both the applicant and the interviewer, and reflect your interest and enthusiasm.

When researching a company or organization, your goal should be to obtain basic information such as:

Services or products offered
Competitors
Age and size of company
Growth pattern
Reputation
Divisions and subsidiaries
Location/length of time established there
Number of employees
Sales, assets, and earnings
New products or projects
Number of locations
Foreign operations

Numerous resources are available to assist you throughout your research process including:

• Boise State web page links: http://career.boisestate.edu/joblinks.htm

• Company profiles in the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE's) Job Choices

• Other references like Standard and Poor's Register, Dun and Bradstreet Million Dollar Directory, Moody's Directories, etc.

• FISonline is an Internet service that provides access to fully searchable databases covering over 27,000 global companies: http://www.fisonline.com.

• Boise State Albertsons Library

• Public Libraries

• Chamber of Commerce

• Government offices

• Regional directories

• Phone calls to the company

• Letters to trade associations

• Company literature available from personnel offices

• On-line computer services and searches

• Newspaper, professional journal, and magazine articles

In addition to these resources, there is also an excellent and extensive company research reference guide in the National Association of Colleges and Employers' (NACE) Planning Job Choices by Karmen N.T. Crowther.

Another goal of your research is to prepare yourself to answer interview questions such as, "What do you know about us?" or, "How do you feel about our company?" Remember, the more you can find out before you interview, the better prepared and more confident you will be and hence, increase the likelihood of a successful interview. Additional assistance is available through the Boise State Career Center - 426-1747.

Personal Marketing Plan: Target Company Research

Prospective Job Title:

Contact Person:

Company:

Telephone Number:

Fax Number:

E-mail and WebPage addresses:

Research Source (personal, directory, etc.):

Size/Age of Company:

Industry Type:

Services/Products:

Who Are Customers:

Growth Pattern:

Divisions/Subsidiaries:

Sales/Assets/Earnings:

New Products/Projects:

Number of Locations:

Foreign Operations:

Competitors:

Reputation:

Number of Employees:

Employment Policies/Application Procedures:

Compensation/Benefit Policies:

Current Industry Information:

Current Company Information:

Other Comments:

Chart excerpted from: Job Search: The Total System, Dawson & Dawson, 1988

Job Search Topics

For additional help contact: