Basic Research
Research Overview
Research is another very important part of your preparation.
When you research an industry, occupation or employer, you gain the information you need to make a good decision about the direction of your job search.
You get to decide whether to apply for a job at a specific employer based on facts, not on feelings. You're in control.
The information you gain while conducting this research will also impress the prospective employer during the interview. It says you're serious about your job search.
Research can be done on occupations, industries, companies, even on the availability of jobs in your geographical location.
Research doesn't have to be time-consuming. You don't have to check out 25 books from a library. Research can be as simple as looking at newspaper employment ads. Newspaper ads, the Internet, employer brochures and company Web sites are all good resources for discovering what experience, training and knowledge are required by a variety of employers.
You can measure your qualifications against those required by the employer. Do you need to get more training in a certain area? Does your resume cover the qualifications most requested by the employer?
Benefits of Research
The time that you spend doing some basic research before you begin your job search can pay big dividends. Overall, benefits include:
- Increased job search confidence
- Increased control over the job search
- Increased decision making ability
- Increased potential for job search success
- Increased employment satisfaction
- Increased potential for economic security