A job seeker needs to research at various levels. Firstly, he needs to identify which companies he should apply for, followed by researching about the company he is planning to pursue. Let's take this step by step.
While looking for a job, the first step is to identify the companies that you would like to apply in. Find the companies that are not only best in their industry but also that best suit you. Start by doing an industry research. What exactly is happening in the industry you are exploring? What are the economics? Which are the top companies in this industry?
Research the industry as a whole and identify the companies you would like to work with. They might not always be the top most companies. This part of research depends a lot on your own expectations and wants.
Once you have identified the potential companies, research about each company individually. Find out whether working with that company would satisfy your career objectives. Research the financial standing of the company. You can do this by visiting the company website and going through the financial. Find out about the stability of the organization - the number of years they have been functioning, their work history, if they have made any major layoffs, if so, how frequently. It is extremely important to research the job security of any company before you decide to apply in it.
Next, research the inside environment of the company. How well does it pay compared to others in the same industry? What is the work culture like? Do they have really long hours and frequent travels? These may seem as minor points but they have a huge effect once you're an employee.
Try to talk to people who are already working within the company. If you have any friends or acquaintances working there, talk to them. If not, there are many sites online that can help you research. Log on to these sites. Use your professional as well as social network to enhance your research. The more you find out, the better position you are in.
The company websites are a great source to get information on the company vision, product line, their clients, any awards or recognitions they have achieved in the industry... as any company would love to flaunt it.
But none of these would ever show you the real picture of the salary and work environment of the company. To know the truth about how it functions in reality, you will have to research by asking around or by visiting sites that give salary and company reviews.
