Company Research

How to Research Companies

Knowing how to research companies and organizations is crucial to a successful job-search campaign. To tailor your resume and cover letter to a particular position, and especially to prepare effectively for an interview, you need to know as much as possible about the company or organization. Many resources are available for your use in the Career Development Center (CDC). Our Website contains links to many company websites where you can directly research specific information. In addition, there are numerous employers handouts in the CDC provided by various companies.

Employers perceive "researching the company" as a critical factor in the evaluation of applicants because it reflects interest and enthusiasm. In the interview, it shows that you understand the purpose of this process and establishes a common base of knowledge from which questions can be asked and to which information can be added, thus enabling both applicant and interviewer to evaluate the position match more accurately.

Try to locate the following items of basic information about the company:

• Age
• Services or products
• Competitors within the industry
• Growth pattern
• Reputation
• Divisions and subsidiaries
• Location/length of time established there
• Size, number of employees
• Sales, assets and earnings
• New products or projects
• Number of locations
• Foreign operations

Company Research Web Sites

These sites offer employer information, including homepages of thousands of companies that are on the web. The information on each homepage differs, but they are generally great places to conduct company research.

Carol World

Annual report site providing direct links to over 3000 corporate reports from Europe, Asia, and the USA and a range of other investor information.

Employer Report Card

A tool to rate different organizations and decide which job is best.

Global Volunteer Network

A non-profit organization supporting the work of local community organizations in developing countries through the placement of international volunteers.

Hoovers Online

Job Web

Employer profiles and job listings.

Office of Disability Employment Policy

Jobs listed by companies that are interested in recruiting and hiring individuals with disabilities.

Quintessential Careers

Salary and Job Offer Negotiation Tutorial.

Reference USA

Large database to research employers.

Researching Companies on the Internet

This business research tutorial presents a step-by-step process for finding FREE company and industry information on the World Wide Web.

Thomas Registry of Manufacturers

Listings of American Manufacturers.

Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce

Links of interest to those in the Pierce County area.

Tacoma Pierce County Economic Development Board

Information on local major employers.

Teachers-Teachers.com

FREE service that will allow prospective teachers to market themselves to over 10,000 public and private schools nationwide.

Wet Feet.com

Industry and employer research.

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