1. Sault College Career Essentials Company Research Techniques

2. Company Research will Help You...
Understand where they stand financially. Are they profitable? Free from investigation? What is their debt load?
Identify the company’s mission statement. This will help in connecting your values to their values.
Find out if the company is socially responsible
See if they are expanding or contracting
Identify the major strategic partners, vendors, customers, and competitors. This can assist you in developing solutions to the company’s current problems.

3. Company Research Techniques
Understand what the company is looking for to properly prepare for an interview
Position yourself as a contributory solution to their problems
Familiarize yourself with all aspects of the company. This will make you more confident going into your interview and more attractive to employers.

4. Company Research will Help You...
Identify the company’s major business units
Familiarize yourself with their key products
Discover areas where your expertise would come in handy in helping them increase profitability and productivity
Understand news articles and economic forecasts on the company

5. Tools to Help You in Your Research
Visit the company’s web site
Search for financial information on Yahoo Finance, MSN Finance, and
Current industry news articles - visit
Free company information - visit
– enter the company name plus key words such as “industry data”
Get to know company lingo and terminology
Source: Great Answers, Great Questions, Jay Block, Michael Betrus, 2004