I conducted a brief search on one of the largest employers in the country and I found more lawsuits than I could count. Should that change my decision to accept an employment offer from this company? What about a small biomedical company involved in a patent battle over a key product? Each situation will be different.

Taking these steps to perform research using free resources is worth the effort to ensure you know as much as possible about a potential employer:

1. Use Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) to search for pending court cases.
2. Search for the target company on the Stanford University Securities Class Action Clearinghouse website.
3. For companies that operate in the USA, source U.S. government websites, such the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice websites.
4. If your target company is a public company in the USA, check Securities Exchange Commission’s EDGAR database for filings to identify lawsuits disclosed by the company.
5. Many counties have online search resources. You can check with the appropriate municipal court where the company is located. Some companies have multiple locations. If so, check the county of the local branch you are targeting, as well as, the county of the company’s headquarters.
6. Conduct a search using local, industry, or national media to find additional information about settled or potential cases.

These resources are excellent ways to uncover new information about a prospective employer. There may be gaps in the research. In other words, you may not find all of the pending legal action. Also, keep in mind that cases settled out of court may not be included in these resources. The information that you discover will be another valuable piece of information to determine if a company is a good match for you.

The post How to Research Lawsuits Involving a Prospective Employer appeared first on Job-Hunt.

As you narrow your target, you can search details of a particular company. You can also uncover job postings and connect with employees within that company.

Industry Search

In the top menu bar, click on “Companies” and enter keywords for a particular industry. Results of top companies in the industry will appear. You can narrow the results by location and company size.

Company Pages

Company Pages are a comprehensive guide to companies. The companies themselves update much of the data. These are the current categories you will find in this area: Overview, Careers (including job postings), Products/Services, Key Statistics, Company Description, Company Employees, New Hires, Recent Promotions/Changes, and Popular Profiles.

As a potential employee, you can find almost everything you need to know about a company in this area. Beyond the corporate facts, the company overview and descriptions sections will hint at the culture of the company.

In fact, companies are encouraged to share information to give outsiders a snapshot of the company culture. Looking at the New Hires and Recent Promotions/Changes sections, you can compare yourself to employees recently hired.

Employee Search

Within the company you can search for current employees. Your connections will be displayed under the company overview tab. These contacts are valuable as you seek the inside scoop on the company or pursue introductions to hiring managers.

Company Facts

While on the company page, you will see more facts in the right sidebar. This information is provided by outside sources, such as CNBC. Additional data includes: key statistics (company size, revenue, locations, map, company website, and more), job openings posted on LinkedIn, recent company news, and stock information.

Bottom Line

All of the above information is available to LinkedIn members at no additional charge. In future articles, we’ll explore other free online company research tools. In the meantime, check out all the company research advice and resources on job-hunt.org, like Advanced LinkedIn Strategies for Company Research.

The post Company Research Using LinkedIn Company Pages appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Collecting Company Intelligence

The primary objectives of company research are to:

• Determine if this is a company where you want to commit the next few years.
• Match your knowledge and talents with the needs of a particular company.
• Increase your interest and enthusiasm for the company.
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the company, interest in the company, and the value you would bring to this company.

What you need to know:

Below is a checklist of items to research listed by phases in the job search process. Each candidate is different, so you may need to know information not listed below.

Don’t stop with this data. Use it as a springboard to learn as much as you can about the company.

For example, as you search news about the industry and the company, it will likely lead you to more interesting information.

Level One: Before You Send Your Resume

• Company’s industry
• Services or products of company
• Company’s primary market
• Company leaders (CEO, CFO, President, etc.)
• Manager responsible for hiring

Level Two: Before the Interview

• Company structure
• Company culture
• Top clients
• Competition
• Trends in industry
• Company’s successes, misses, and “headlines” over recent 2-3 years

Level Three: Before You Accept the Offer

• Financial status
• Biggest challenge that the company faces, biggest challenge of department or division
• Advancement and succession policies
• Opportunities for training, development, and promotion
• Organization’s chief values/philosophy

Bottom Line

This intelligence you gather will help you shine in the interview. In past years, I might have said that you may be the one in four candidates that make the effort to conduct research. In today’s challenging market, all the savvy candidates do their research. Today, my advice is, don’t be the one that does NOT do the necessary research.

More: How to Handle Culture Fit Interview Questions

The post Is This Employer a Good Fit for You? appeared first on Job-Hunt.

In fact, there are at least four easy tools you can use that will bring information about your target employers right to your fingertips.

Leverage These Apps for Your Company Research

Take five or ten minutes of your time to set up your search criteria, and you will be fed updates on a daily or weekly basis. You may consume the information on your smart phone or tablet at your convenience.

Google Alerts

Google Alerts is a free tool that you can leverage to receive e-mail notifications when keywords and phrases that you specify appear on websites and blogs.

Take just a few minutes to establish your alert settings, and Google Alerts will automatically send you emails when Google finds new results that match your search term.

This is an excellent tool to use when researching a company. You can track websites that mention your target company and also receive alerts when key leaders at your target company are mentioned online.

Twitter Activity Timeline

Follow your target companies on Twitter, and their updates will appear in your home tab. The “Discover” tab’s activity timeline shows you real-time information about the actions being taken by the companies that you follow. You will see company news, as well as, what has been re-tweeted and followed. It provides insight into what is top-of-mind for the company you are following.

Follow on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a goldmine for information about your target employer. Start following a company so you can get updates fed to your LinkedIn home page. You will learn company news as it happens, including product development, organizational changes, staff and leadership changes, business opportunities, and job openings. Also, follow key individuals at your target employer.

Indeed Job Alert

Indeed is just one example of a job posting aggregator. Rather than comb through information when you have the time, you can create a job alert so the new job postings are delivered to your email based on your search criteria.

Bottom Line

Next time you have a bit of down time set up these valuable tools. Information about your target companies will flow to you effortlessly. For more information on company research, check out these other job-hunt resources.

More on This Topic

• The Ultimate Guide to Company Research for Your Job Search
• LinkedIn’s Company Follow Function
• Setting Up Google Alerts
• Using Google Alerts for Your Job Search

About the author…

Debra Wheatman is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC). She is globally recognized as an expert in advanced career search techniques with more than 18 years’ corporate human resource experience. Debra has been featured on Fox Business News, WNYW with Brian Lehrer, and quoted in leading publications, including Forbes.com, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. Debra may be reached at debra@careersdonewrite.com, or you may visit her website at CareersDoneWrite.com.
More about this author…

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Would you be surprised if I told you that a website that you already visit on a daily basis is a rich reservoir of company information? Facebook should be an important part of your company research regimen.

Here are the basics of using Facebook for company research.

Company Page Basics

To find the company page, type name of the company into the search bar at the top of every Facebook page.  Facebook may find several company pages with that name or none at all, depending on the company’s visibility and involvement with Facebook.  Some company pages are generated automatically by Facebook without company involvement, aggregating information about the company. They can be interesting, but typically the most useful company pages are the ones which are set up and managed by the company.

The company-managed page offers the carefully crafted message from the company. This may include the company’s mission statement, location, contact information, link to the website, and overview of offerings.

News Feed

This is where you can read posts in the company’s news feed. For most active “facebooking” companies, this is where they will focus their attention. Look for announcements about new products, entry to new markets, new company leaders, and the company’s opinion on current affairs. As you read the posts, make note of posts that are shared and discussed. If you follow a company, you can keep track of the company in the “Following Feed” on the right side of your Facebook home page.

Sponsored Ads

Search for a company’s sponsored advertisements on LinkedIn as a means to understanding the marketing focus. How many people “like” the ads or sponsored stories? This is an indication of the company’s vitality.

Polls

Companies may conduct a poll. It may be about new products, new ideas, or to gain insight into the interests of the marketplace. Pay attention to the polls for hints about future plans or opportunities at the company.

Search

You can also search the target company and employees of the target company using the search tool on Facebook. You may find new bits of information. This also represents an additional opportunity to read what others are posting in reference to this company.

Search on the company name or on terms like “works at [company name]” to find both current and former employees as well as other information about the company.

The Bottom Line

You have a wonderful resource at your fingertips. Use Facebook to research thousands of companies. Research will help you identify target companies. The more you know about a target company, the better you can match your knowledge and experience with the needs of that company. You can demonstrate how you fill those needs while interviewing with the company. Your productive use of Facebook can serve as critical support to help you with a successful job search.

More: The Ultimate Guide to Company Research for Your Job Search

About the author…

Debra Wheatman is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC). She is globally recognized as an expert in advanced career search techniques with more than 18 years’ corporate human resource experience. Debra has been featured on Fox Business News, WNYW with Brian Lehrer, and quoted in leading publications, including Forbes.com, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. Debra may be reached at debra@careersdonewrite.com, or you may visit her website at CareersDoneWrite.com.
More about this author…

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The person with the ultimate decision-making power is the hiring manager. They are not involved in the early stage of the search primarily because in the initial stage a company may receive hundreds or in some cases thousands of resumes for open postings.    

The hiring manager comes into the picture after the applicants are screened and the field is narrowed to the top ten, five, or three candidates. However, if a qualified, proactive candidate finds a connection to that manager, it can result in circumvention of the HR screening process. You can reduce the risk of being eliminated before you have a chance to show what you’re made of!

Here are a few research techniques to obtain the hiring manager’s name:

• Corporate Websites – Some of the high profile positions may be listed on the corporate website. Also, take a look at the “press” or “news” page of the site to scan for information about your target department.
• Search Online – You can use keywords such as the department name, manager’s job title, and company name to search for more information concerning your target contact.
• Call the Operator – It is fairly easy to obtain the target company’s main telephone number. Most have a default extension for the main corporate receptionist or operator. Ask the receptionist for the name of the manager that oversees the department in which the job in question would fall.
• After Hours Call – If you do not succeed with the receptionist, try calling after business hours. You may be able to reach someone by using the automated directory. A simple, “could you please help? ” might be all it takes to secure the name of the manager in charge of the job or function. You can also try calling early – there are many people who arrive before the “opening bell” to get a few things done before the rush of the day begins.
• LinkedIn – You may search for someone using a title and/or company name. You can also perform an advanced search for employees at your target company. Sort through to find those in the target department. You might run across people within one or two degrees of separation. Reach out and it could be a way to gain a friend on the inside who could hand-deliver your résumé directly to the hiring manager.
• Networking – Network online and in person to meet people with associations within your target company.
• In-Person – Attend events hosted by professional organizations
• Forums – Participate in industry forums online, and reach out to those in your personal network. This is a proven way to meet people who work at the target company and who are in a position to help you.

Additional Information:

• Identifying Hiring Manager Contact Information – the next step after you have the name
• Tapping LinkedIn for Research
• Advanced LinkedIn Strategies for Company Research

About the author…

Debra Wheatman is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC). She is globally recognized as an expert in advanced career search techniques with more than 18 years’ corporate human resource experience. Debra has been featured on Fox Business News, WNYW with Brian Lehrer, and quoted in leading publications, including Forbes.com, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. Debra may be reached at debra@careersdonewrite.com, or you may visit her website at CareersDoneWrite.com.
More about this author…

The post How to Find the Hiring Manager – Your Best Contact appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Luckily, there are many free or low cost research resources on the internet. Those who learn the secrets of finding and verifying phone, fax, email, and mailing addresses, can improve their odds tremendously when it comes to job search success.

Let’s take a look at the most practical approach for finding and verifying critical information so you can send résumés, follow up letters, and reach out directly to get your information into the right hands.

• Email addresses
  Unlocking the email address of a hiring manager is usually fairly easy. Most companies follow one of three formats. FirstInitialLastName (e.g. jsmith@companyxyz.com), FirstName.LastName (e.g. john.smith@companyxyz.com), or First Name_LastName (e.g. john_smith@companyxyz.com). There are definitely exceptions, but you can test your email addresses by going to one of several email test sites. Rolosoft has a good one.
• Phone numbers
  While visiting a corporate website for phone numbers is effective, you may find the number of the local office for the firm you want to work for by using Superpages. The best way to get the hiring manager’s extension is to call after hours and listen to the office directory. You can call back the next day.
• US Mail
  The same strategy is good for US Mail. It is always a good idea to call the receptionist and confirm the physical address when sending a letter via US mail to a hiring manager or HR recruiter. Be sure to double check the spelling of names. Misspelled names will not earn brownie points.
• Fax numbers
  Fax numbers are VERY easy to get. If you call most receptionists and say you are trying to send a fax to a particular person, nine times out of ten, they will give you the fax number you need. When sending a fax, call back and confirm receipt.

Job search requires a multi-pronged approach. Send an email, but also send a letter, and even a fax.

You want to draw attention to your skills and abilities – the only way to do this is to get noticed! Word your cover letters appropriately. Let the recipient know you have attempted to contact them and reference your methods. You don’t want them to think you are spamming them. The squeaky wheel definitely gets the grease.

About the author…

Debra Wheatman is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC). She is globally recognized as an expert in advanced career search techniques with more than 18 years’ corporate human resource experience. Debra has been featured on Fox Business News, WNYW with Brian Lehrer, and quoted in leading publications, including Forbes.com, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. Debra may be reached at debra@careersdonewrite.com, or you may visit her website at CareersDoneWrite.com.
More about this author…

The post How to Identify Hiring Manager Contact Information appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Often admittance to the exhibit hall area is free or very low cost in comparison with “full” expo attendance which may include meals and sessions presented by speakers and expensive.  

Sometimes exhibit hall conversations can lead to discussions about job opportunities. It is also a time to learn about employment trends, skills required for future positions, and guidance for navigating the company’s application process.

Many expos offer workshops and presentations highly relevant to your target industry. Often expos present round table discussions featuring industry leaders with whom you may be able to speak after the round table discussion.

Follow these suggestions and you’ll walk away with insider information on your target companies and possibly get your foot in the door for future discussions.

Prepare

• Review the expo website in advance so you can identify target companies.
• Open your mind to consider companies that you previously have not considered as a target. You may be overlooking the ideal company.
• Rehearse a 15-second introduction of yourself as well as questions for each of your target companies. Perhaps you have general questions and one specific one for each of your primary targets.

Present

• Dress professionally, just as you would for an interview. This is a working day, not a day off. Resist the urge to wear your sneakers.
• Bring your smart phone or tablet for note taking, but keep your phone ringer muted.
• Bring your business cards. Have your resume on hand, just in case you are asked for it. However, do not provide your resume unless asked or the conversation steers toward future opportunities at the company. Do not jump the gun. You are here to research and network.
• Carry your belongings in a professional business satchel with plenty of room for corporate materials.

Participate

• It can be intimidating to approach the representatives, mingle, and ask questions. Overcome this feeling. You are at the expo to engage with the company contacts, gather info, and network. If you merely walk the halls and pick up glossy brochures, you might as well stay home and surf the Web for the same information.
• Be considerate of the company representative’s time. After asking your questions, get contact information and if appropriate, make arrangements for future contact.
• Take time to talk to fellow attendees. Often peers can offer you valuable insight based on their search and employment experience.
• Avoid the freebie grab. Most companies offer the same type of stuff…pens, post-its, and stress balls. It’s more important to make a good impression than to score a LED-lighted USB stick.

For more information on expos, check the article “Researching Potential Employers at Trade Shows.”

About the author…

Debra Wheatman is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC). She is globally recognized as an expert in advanced career search techniques with more than 18 years’ corporate human resource experience. Debra has been featured on Fox Business News, WNYW with Brian Lehrer, and quoted in leading publications, including Forbes.com, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. Debra may be reached at debra@careersdonewrite.com, or you may visit her website at CareersDoneWrite.com.
More about this author…

The post Resarching Employers at Industry Expos appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Make use of your connections in the real world and social media to access a company insider. Politely ask your contacts if they can help you make a connection.

Insider Interviews (a.k.a. “Informational Interviews”)

Why conduct an insider interview (also called an informational interview)? An insider interview is an excellent way to learn about daily business operations and how actual employees feel about their employer. As a bonus, you may learn more about your industry and occupational field.

This knowledge increases confidence, helps you prepare for an actual job interview, and expands your network.

Doing an Insider Interview

After you identify an insider with whom you would like to speak, reach out to them. Explain that the reason for your interview request is to learn more about the company, the industry, and their particular insights.

• Dress as you would for a formal interview.
• Be respectful of the interviewee’s time. If you meet at a coffee shop, a nice gesture would be to pick up the check.
• Take notes during the interview, but at the same time stay engaged in the conversation.
• Send a thank you note or email following the interview.

[Do NOT bring a copy of your resume to this meeting. You are asking for information, not for a job.]

After you land in your new job, follow-up again to thank the interviewee, and let them know the results of your job search.

Good Questions to Ask for Insider Interviews

Below are a few examples of questions you can ask during an insider interview:

Bottom Line

Conducting insider interviews will enhance the success of your job search campaign. If you follow the advice provided above, you will gain information about specific companies and your target industry. This will increase your chance of gaining interviews, improve your interview results due to your preparation, and help you make a more intelligent decision when you are offered a position.

About the author…

Debra Wheatman is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC). She is globally recognized as an expert in advanced career search techniques with more than 18 years’ corporate human resource experience. Debra has been featured on Fox Business News, WNYW with Brian Lehrer, and quoted in leading publications, including Forbes.com, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. Debra may be reached at debra@careersdonewrite.com, or you may visit her website at CareersDoneWrite.com.
More about this author…

The post Gain Insight and Advantage Via Insider Interviews appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Perhaps you accepted a job with a company only to find that they were on their way to bankruptcy.

Or, perhaps you were caught unprepared at an interview, and blew a terrific opportunity.

It is important to know the company. This will allow you to tailor your talking points and show the hiring company how you match their needs and fit their culture. You can avoid working for a bad employer and being unprepared for your job interview by conducting thorough company research.

Research is quite simple; if you use the right sources, it can also be very time-efficient.

Solid Company Research Sources

The following are the basics of company research so you can avoid career regrets.

Basic Financial & Corporate Information

There is a great deal of public information readily available online. There are numerous sites on which you can perform company research. The list consists of links providing access to ranks of top companies, reports filed by public companies, and profiles of major employers.

There are six top resources that are essential to researching public organizations:

1. Security Exchange Commission
2. Fortune 500 Company List
3. Inc.com 5000 List
4. Hoover.com’s company profiles database
5. Manta.com’s Profiles of Small Businesses in the U.S.
6. Chamber of Commerce branch in the location of your target employer

Current News

With so many sources of up-to-the-minute information, there is no excuse to be uninformed about your target company’s latest news. Keep an eye open for new press releases or breaking news.

The company’s website is your best source of news they wish to present.

Also, visit your favorite search site and enter the company’s name as the key search words. You may uncover news of active legal proceedings by entering the company name and the word “law suit.” If you want to limit the information to recent news, you may also enter a date in the search terms.

[For more, read 50 Google Searches to Avoid Layoffs and Bad Employers.]

Social Media

If you are like most professionals, you are visiting social media sites on a daily basis. It’s a smart use of time because Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook provide timely news, including news about prospective employers.

While engaging in social media conduct research to learn more about your target employer. For starters, visit LinkedIn Company Pages.

Elsewhere use the search tool to enter the company’s name.

If you are targeting healthcare, hospitality, service, or entertainment companies, visit Yelp! or Angie’s List.

You can get a comprehensive view of the company through social media because you are seeing posts from the company, employees, and customers.

Employee Insights

Use your networking prowess to connect with employees at your target company. You access an employee through your online or real world network. Respectfully reach out and ask for the chance to talk with them at their convenience to learn more about the company.

The insights of a current or recent employee are so valuable. They can share a glimpse of what a day in the company is like. They also can give you the scoop on the culture of the company.

Be aware that some employees may be biased or jaded, so use this as just one source when forming an opinion about a company.

More: The Ultimate Guide to Company Research for Your Job Search

Bottom Line

Company research is a multi-faceted task involving multiple sources and techniques. Take the time to conduct research to determine if a company is right for you. This will also help prepare you for an upcoming job interview. Analyze data that you have uncovered to identify how you fill the needs of a target employer. You may update your resume to highlight the aspects of your skills and expertise to present yourself as the perfect candidate.

About the author…

Debra Wheatman is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC). She is globally recognized as an expert in advanced career search techniques with more than 18 years’ corporate human resource experience. Debra has been featured on Fox Business News, WNYW with Brian Lehrer, and quoted in leading publications, including Forbes.com, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. Debra may be reached at debra@careersdonewrite.com, or you may visit her website at CareersDoneWrite.com.
More about this author…

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