It’s so tempting while you are looking for a job, to apply to anything that looks like it might be a match. But your time is valuable. Start thinking of your hourly time in dollar amounts. If what you do for work is worth $45 an hour why would you think your hour is worth less while looking for a job? Make sure before you invest $135 to fill out an application, it’s worth it.
1. Determine company’s financial strength and management
While you might be able to gleam some information from a company’s website, such as the investor information from a public traded company, it’s always a good idea to do some due diligence. If you do not have a library card, go get one. Many free public library cards will allow you access into research portals including Gale, a nationally known research and educational publishing company. By using Business Insights or Gale OneFile, you can find legal, financial and management information on a company. Crunchbase is another great tool to give you financial information on companies you may be interested in. As is their hiring volume in general. If someone is hiring quite a bit, it shows financial strength and growth mode, which is a promising stage to join any company.
2. Read up on employee reviews and Google
Besides Indeed and Glassdoor, there are several other websites you can find that may provide some great information on employees’ experiences at different companies. Some of these include Comparably, Vault, The Muse, Kununu, and CareerBliss. Keep in mind these may or may not truly represent the company’s culture. Don’t be afraid to just Google the name of the company to see what pops up.
3. Network within your industry and talk to peers/colleagues
By networking in your industry and finding colleagues or peers, you will find better information. You can easily visit LinkedIn, search a company, and discover if someone you know might have worked there. If someone makes negative comments, don’t be afraid to ask for examples or details. When provided a nonjudgmental ear, most people will open up.
4. Check out the company’s Facebook page and other social media footprint
By finding the company’s Facebook page and other social media sites, such as Twitter or Instagram, you can see some aspect of the company’s culture. Does the company post employee photos during potluck lunches or other social events? Are they dressed casually or formally? You can tell a lot about an organization’s culture by the photos they post. Does the culture look to be a fit for you?
5. Think through how the information you gathered can help the application process
You have successfully researched the company and you believe this job is right for you. Not only did this process help solidify your choice to apply but now you can use the information to your advantage. Tailor the information you provide either in a resume, cover letter or in the online application process to match what you found. If you know the company encourages employees to run in marathons together, you might want to relate how your athletic competition made you better at your job.