Researching an Employer

Category: Tips and Advice Publish date: 02/03/2015

Approaching the job market can be a daunting prospect, but with some organisation and a computer you can find out all you need to submit an excellent application and prepare for that all-important interview.

There are several different ways to approach the job market: you may decide to start your search by looking at industries that interest you and then focus on employers and their opportunities; you may be looking at a location first and then research what is happening in and around that areas in the job market; others may look at jobs and not mind about the industry or location. Whatever approach you decide on, at some point you are going to need to undertake some research.

CTP Employer Focus

A good place to start your research is with the CTP. Our Employer Focus pages have information about many employers who are interested in your skills and experience. It’s worth taking a look at these pages to see what some of these companies are looking for, to help give you an idea of who is recruiting and what kind of opportunities they have. There may also be some advice on the recruitment process and what kind of skills and experience they expect you to have.

Google

Google will also be very useful to you – a lot of the information you will want to know will be available on the company website, although it can sometimes take a bit of time to find the information you are looking for. Remember, not everything you find written on the internet is necessarily true! Ensure you use reputable sites and check your sources thoroughly.

Glass Door

You may also want to use websites such as Glass Door, which allows you to find out what employees think of their employer, as well as salary information, which is extremely helpful if the company does not advertise salary information on their vacancies.

Networking

Networking is one of the best ways to find out about an employer. Whether you are attending CTP events or using professional networking sites like LinkedIn, networking is one of the most powerful ways of understanding organisations you might like to work for. In turn, organisations are able to use networking to understand the skills and experiences a potential employee can bring to the business. It’s a good idea to have some questions ready to ask so it’s sensible to have done some basic research – it would be very embarrassing to ask an employer about opportunities in the South of England, only to get told that they don’t operate there. Remember that impressions count, whether they are first or tenth!

With all the information available to you online and through networking, it can be difficult to know what information is worth knowing. Here are some top tips to help you understand if an employer could be the right one for you:

• Look at the company’s values and behaviours – are they similar to your values and your ideals? If not, it’s likely that you won’t enjoy a career with this organisation.
• Where do they operate? If you are looking to develop a national or international career, is this company able to support that aspiration?
• What are the benefits of working for this company? Not all companies will provide this information on their websites, but some do. For some job seekers, the benefits are an essential consideration. It’s helpful to know what you can expect from your potential employer.
• What are they currently advertising for? Perhaps you are not going to be available for work for a few months, but it’s helpful to know how much recruitment they are doing and what opportunities they are recruiting to.
• What has been said in the media about this employer? Are they popular with the public? Are they going through a period of growth? Have they won any awards recently? Understanding the strength of the employer brand can help you decide if they are somewhere you want to belong to. It may be that they have gone through a difficult time but you like the idea of being part of the recovery team; you may feel that you only want to work with employers who are leading the way in innovation.

Keeping a track on all of this information can be tough, so it is worth making notes as you do your research. This will help you as you apply for jobs, and also further along the process at interview; many employers will want to know why you want to work for them, and that is a question you should definitely know the answer to. Being aware of current affairs within the business will also provide a good basis for asking insightful questions at interview.

Don’t forget, you can ask your CTP Career Consultant or the Information and Research Co-Ordinator in your local RRC if you have any questions about how to research an employer. Each RRC has a Resource Room with computers and information centres to help you on your way.