Job Seeker 101: Do Your Research

Jun 14

As a job seeker, there really isn’t an acceptable excuse for not doing your homework. In our increasingly transparent world, company research is easier and easier to obtain. For the most part, employers expect it at this point, and there are a variety of places a job seeker can find this insider information.

Speaking from personal experience, when I was a recruiter, there’s nothing more frustrating than sitting across from a candidate and receiving a blank stare when you ask, “What questions do you have for me?”

RESEARCH IS IMPORTANT

A little company research before you hit that apply button or schedule that interview will allow you to see what it’s really like to work for a particular company. What kind of people will you be surrounded by, and is this company the type of place you want to invest your time and skills into?

As a job seeker, you should never be surprised when you show up at the new job. You’re not going to uncover every single detail, but you should have a pretty good grasp on the company’s values and culture before ever signing the offer letter.

How can you, as a job seeker, uncover these hidden gems? First, start online. The company’s website is probably the best place to begin your research. Public and private companies alike are publishing information on their websites that can supply you with a wealth of information.

THE COMPANY’S HOME PAGE

You should be able to easily find the company’s mission, vision, core values, and purpose. You should also be able to locate the company’s value proposition to its potential customers. What does the company sell, what is its promise, strategic advantage, and/or differentiator?

These items should give you the general 30,000-foot view of the company.

THE COMPANY’S ABOUT PAGE

Next, take a look at the “About” page. Here you should find some information about how the company started and who it does business with. Typically, you can also find information about some of the leaders at the company. Read those biographies and see if the people at the top would inspire you to work hard every day.

Check your network to see if any of your friends have any connections to those decision-makers at the company.

THE COMPANY’S NEWS/PRESS PAGE

Next up, check the “Press” page for news mentions, press releases, event information, awards won, and other digital assets. If a company issues press releases, you can obtain valuable information from them. What awards have they won, what employees are being recognized, and what new services or products are now being offered, just to name a few.

You can really impress an interviewer if you’re able to reference a recent press release or news mention that is pertinent to the role you’re interviewing for.

THE COMPANY’S SOCIAL CHANNELS

A company’s social presence is increasingly becoming a favorite for that behind-the-scenes look at the company. In fact, some companies even have entire social accounts devoted to “Life at Company XYZ.”

In your social search, you can also locate the social accounts of other employees at the company. What are they saying about the company or their bosses? There can certainly be extremes at both ends, but with good research skills, you can identify trends and cut through the noise to find common themes.

THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES

Finally, companies such as Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and The Muse all house a ton of information about employers. Photos from recent events, employee testimonials, and even videos are now popping up on these sites regularly. Several platforms even solicit anonymous feedback in the form of reviews about the company, the interview process, and benefits.

Just as you did when researching the social accounts of other employees, you’ll have to identify the trends and weed through the reviews on these sites.

YOUR Research JUST GOT EASIER

Many companies are investing time and resources into developing and cultivating their employer brand. Companies know the candidates they’re after, and more importantly, know these candidates are highly sought after. It’s not uncommon for talent acquisition teams and marketing teams to work together to treat candidates as they would consumers. Resources and efforts are strategically deployed to attract candidates, nurture them throughout the candidate journey, and ensure job seekers gain an authentic vision of what it’s like to work at the company.

The great news for you as the job seeker is that this rise in the importance of employer branding significantly and positively impacts your research efforts.

There are many avenues available to job seekers for research. Remember, a great interview should go both ways.

Chris Skaggs

Digital and social media, branding, recruitment and content strategy are all skills Chris has developed as he has built teams, processes and strategies from the ground-up. In his previous experience, Chris has served in various roles including: recruiter, ambassador, director, vice president and co-founder. His work and experiences have been featured on CNN, Marketing Sherpa, Thrive Global, CBS Radio, Recruiter.com and Glassdoor to name a few.

Chris received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology from The University of Texas at Austin where he was an active member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

He is passionate about giving back to his community. Chris is a current member of the board of trustees for the Texas Health Resources Foundation and a past board member for the North Texas Christian Academy. Additionally, he alongside his wife, co-founded Leighton’s Gift, a nonprofit with a mission to turn a tragedy into something positive in memory of the couple’s daughter, Leighton, who tragically passed away.

Outside of work, Chris can be found spending time with his wife, Amy, of 13 years, and his children Jaxon (7), Leighton (angel) and Olivia (4). He also enjoys wine, coffee, cooking and watching his beloved Longhorns in any college sporting event — Hook ‘Em!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislskaggs/