Job Hunter Newsletter

Employer Research Strategies

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IN THIS ISSUE:

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Contents

- Job Search Tip of the Week, by Brian Krueger, author of "College Grad Job Hunter," the #1 book for entry level job search:

"Employer Research Strategies"

And you thought your days (and nights) of digging through reference books and sorting through Web sites in search of information were over! In reality, if you are good at mining the mountains of information to find the nuggets of gold, it will pay off handsomely in your job search and in your future career! Consider the fact that your future job likely is with a company you have never heard of before. You will find that company through your research.

Utilizing your research skills can provide you with a nearly continuous flow of information that others do not have access to. Yet it is not enough just to find the information. You need to put it to work for you. For example, right now you are reading information that very few other college grads have gained access to. Are you using all of the information at this site to its fullest degree? Don't just read this information and think to yourself, "That's interesting. I bet that would work." It will not work until you put it into action!

One critical aspect of job search preparation that can truly set you apart is employer research. Employer research is what brings you together and keeps you together with those who have the power and authority to potentially offer your first position.

Employer research serves a dual purpose. First, you will need to identify and target specific hiring companies in your job search. Second, you will need to gather detailed information about each target employer in order to be adequately prepared for making direct contact. While the research guides provide the basic information that will give you a broad overview, it is the detailed information that will set you apart from the crowd.

Sadly, most college students know little if anything about the employer they are contacting or even interviewing with. The quickest showstopper can come when I ask (whether on the phone or in person), "What do you know about our company?" If you have not even taken the time to do this basic research, why should I commit a segment of my busy day to speaking with you? Unfortunately, few are able to respond with even the basics. Strike one. Fewer still are able to articulate any information specific to our company. Strike two.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Employer information, even detailed information, is usually available for the price of some simple digging. It's out there waiting for you to discover it and bring it to the surface. The end of the interview is not the time or place to gather employer information. If you are serious about your job search, do your best to acquire detailed employer information before you make contact with the company or its representatives. It is those who are well-informed from the start who consistently are given the opportunity for company-site interviews and eventual job offers.

Job search is a two-way street. Don't just go begging for any job. Doing detailed research on each potential employer will assist you in better understanding which companies you may have an interest in working for. And it will give you the ammunition you need to be successful in securing a job offer from the employer of your choice.

The source locations where employer information can be found include (in order of ease of access): the Internet, your Career Center, Campus Library, Public Library, and direct company contact.

Next newsletter: "The Best Internet Employer Research"

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Contents

- Help Spread The Word!

Do you know of someone who can benefit from the information in this newsletter? Simply forward this e-mail to them and tell them to subscribe at http://www.CollegeGrad.com/newsletter. Thanks for spreading the good word!

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Contents

Job Search Links:

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- Job Search Book Online

There are at least two other entry level Web sites that offer books on job searching, proclaming that they will tell you everything you need to know about entry level job search.

However, there is a very important point about these books they don't mention up front: they cost money.

At CollegeGrad.com, we give you two things they don't:

    1. The #1 entry level job search book ("College Grad Job Hunter").
    2. It's free.

It's that simple. So don't buy the hype. Read the real information you need for FREE:

Don't ever pay for books or reports or resources of lower quality when you can access the very best quality information for free.

P.S. Yes, you can buy "College Grad Job Hunter" in hardcopy format as well at Amazon.com for $15 (actually, 30% off that price), but the online version is better. Why? Because the version at Amazon.com (the 2003 edition) is being continually updated at CollegeGrad.com. So the most current version of the book is actually the online, free version.

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