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The Job Hunt: Researching an Organization
NOTE: Some links require an on-campus connection or proxy settings
discussed here.
IDENTIFY THE PARENT COMPANY: The best way to research your
company is by using the name of the parent company. The two best tools
to use:
- Who Owns Whom. This is a book in the Reference Department of the
Z. Smith Reynolds Library.
- Reference USA,
Search by company name, then follow the green arrows to locate the
parent company
FIND FINANCIAL AND GENERAL INFORMATION: If your company is
publicly traded (the public can buy stock), it's much easier to find
information. If you aren't sure if the company is public or private,
try Gale
Business Resources. In the company entry, it clearly states "public"
or "private."
- Hoover's Online, Not only
can you find basic financial information, this site provides names
of the top three competitors, industry information, and company
ranking.
- Reference USA,
If your company is small and private, you may find it difficult
to get any information. This database at least gives basic data
- sales, number of employees, etc.
- CareerSearch:
Provides basic information for all types of companies and organizations,
both public and private. Contact the Career Services office for
information on how to access this resource.)
FIND NEWS, STRATEGIC, MARKETING, OR OTHER COMPANY INFORMATION:
- ProQuest,
Contains full text access to a wide range of news and business and
company information. Look for information on the company's strategies,
growth patterns, marketing, and more.
IDENTIFY COMPETITORS AND FIND INDUSTRY INFORMATION:
- Hoover's Online, Lists the
top three competitors and links to reports on them. Hint - try the
company profiles and company capsules through the library's subscription.
- Standard and
Poor's NetAdvantage, Contains business descriptions, stock prices,
and industry profiles - a way to place your company into a larger
context, as well as to determine the company's stability and prospects
for future growth.
- Market Share Reporter, either in print (Ref.HF5415.2 M37) or through
Gale
Business Resource Center. You'll not only know who the top players
are, but what percentage of the market they have. Very valuable
information!
SALARY NEGOTIATIONS:
Don't sell yourself short! Find out how much you should be paid.
Good Luck! If you aren't finding the information you need, please call the Z. Smith Reynolds Library Reference Desk (758-5475) for assistance. |