Research Employers
Wondering which companies may be hiring in your field? Want to find out more about a company you are thinking of working for? Use these simple research tips for the most informed job searches.
General employer research tips
- Locate employers' websites by entering the full name of the business into a search engine such as Google or Yahoo.
- Consult more than one information source. Remember that a company's website is not the most objective source.
- Look for relevant, timely information. To avoid information overload, review only recently posted content that helps answer specific questions listed below.
- Learn some Job Search Tips to identify job openings and break into a company's hidden job market.
- Once you've done your research, test your knowledge and practice for a job interview using Common Interview Questions.
Get started learning about occupations, industries, and companies
If you're just beginning your research, use this list of questions to help you find basic information.
| Question | Where to search on ISEEK |
|---|---|
| What businesses are located in my area? | Business Search |
| Which industries are major employers for the occupation I'm interested in? | Find Industries |
| What are the typical wages for this occupation? | Salary Information |
| What are the background and training requirements in this occupation? | Career Clusters |
| Have there been many job openings in the recent past in this field? | Minnesota Job Vacancies |
| What are the future trends for this field? | Minnesota Growing Careers |
Research individual companies
If you've already narrowed your job-search list to a few employers, use this list of questions to learn what you need to know about those companies before you apply for a job or go for an interview:
| Question | Where to search |
|---|---|
| What products/services does the employer provide? What industry trends are affecting the company? Employer websites. These will often include descriptions of the company unit(s) that may be hiring in your field and the types of products/programs they are delivering. |
Regional or state publications such as
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What jobs does the company typically hire for? What is the employer's hiring policy? | Employer websites. These will often include hiring policies and job openings.
College and university placement offices. Here you can find out if the company is recruiting on campus and what kind of qualifications they are looking for when they hire. |
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What are the employer's mission and values? Has there been any recent noteworthy news related to the company? | Annual reports, employer newsletters, brochures, advertisements. You can obtain these by looking at the latest press releases and annual reports online, or contacting the employer's public relations office or personnel department. Annual reports usually present an outline of the organization's successes, growth, history, and financial status. |
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What is the employer's financial situation? Is it making money? Has it undergone any downsizing in the last 5 years? What do others think about the company? | Current newspapers, trade journals, and business magazines. The business section of most papers contains numerous articles about local companies and their executives. You can find back copies in library archives. For businesses in the Twin Cities consult Finance and Commerce and the  Minneapolis – St. Paul Business Journal. Consult BusinessWeek for company and industry news nationwide. |
| What's it really like to work for this employer? | People who are working or have worked for the company. |
Source: Creative Job Search, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
