Employer research is critical to success in the job search process. Just as self-assessment will help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, accomplishments and achievements, needs and restrictions, employer research will reveal a potential employer’s philosophy and values, work culture and its demands and rewards, employee characteristics and other essential information you will need to assess an organization and make a match appropriate to your career goals and personality. As you progress in your career, and risk more with each change of employer, in-depth research can help to insure that you are moving to an environment where you will have a reasonable chance of success.

Minimally, your research should help you to discover information on the employer’s size, number of employees, new initiatives, locations (both domestic and international), reputation, age, services and products and competitors. Additionally, your research will help you to write targeted cover letters and resumes and to develop probing questions to be asked during your interviews. Finally, the knowledge you display in your interviews as a result of your research will convince a prospective employer that you are interested and enthusiastic and will permit you to tailor your responses to meet a potential employer’s needs.

Resources you should use to conduct your research include:

• Office of Career Services (OCS) career reference files
• OCS Career Reference library and references on reserve in Hammer
• World Wide Web
• Alumni Mentoring Program
• Faculty
• Peers
• Information sessions on the Health Sciences and Morningside Campuses
• Annual Career Day at the School of Public Health and Morningside Campus Career Fairs
• Professional journals
• Newspapers
• Public and specialized libraries
• Chamber of Commerce
• Employer Literature
• Employer Directories

When you have completed both your pre and post-interview research, you should be able to answer questions such as:

• Do I support the employer’s mission?
• Is the work environment structured or unstructured? Is the organization large and formal or smaller and more friendly with cross-functional work encouraged?
• Is the environment fast-paced or is it a calmer, slower environment?
• How much autonomy will I have in the position?
• What type of administrative support will I have in this position?
• Is the culture a good match for my management style?
• Are salary increases tied to performance objectives?
• What are the work hours? Are hours flexible? Will I be required to travel?
• What provisions are made for initial training as well as on-going career development?
• Will the position provide me with the skills and training I will need to advance in my career?
• How is my prospective employer perceived within the industry?