Research is another important part of your preparation. When some people hear the word "research," they have visions of a mad scientist surrounded by test tubes, microscopes and Bunsen burners. Others might think of endless trips to the library where they have to read stacks of books. The type of research needed in the job search isn't what you might think.

Why do research at all? 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, individual companies, availability of jobs in your area and on other topics.

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 Internet home pages can be 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?

Sources of Published Information

• Library
• Internet
• Telephone Yellow Pages
• Professional/trade associations and unions
• Business and Manufacturer Guide
• Dunn & Bradstreet Directory
• Standard and Poor's
• Corporate Report Fact Book
• Corporate Yellow Book
• Business Almanac
• Business Directory
• Employer database such as InfoTrac at local libraries
• News articles about employers
• Business Periodicals Index

Benefits of Research

• 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

Researching an Employer

Before you apply for a job at a particular employer, you should learn as much about that employer as you can. Researching the employer will give you the information you need to decide if this is an employer for which you'd like to work. Would employment with them meet your career values?

John was looking for a welding job, although he had very little work experience. He did not think it was necessary to do research as he had an interview already set up with a small employer. After completing his job search training, he decided it might be to his benefit to research the employer. After researching, he went to his interview. One of the first questions asked of him was, "Tell me what you know about this company." Since he had done the research, he was able to impress the interviewer with the knowledge he had learned. The very next day John was offered the welding job.

Listed below are some of the many sources that have information about employers--

• Minnesota WorkForce Center Resource Area staff or staff at your local state employment service office
• People who are working with the employer
• Current newspapers, trade journals and business magazines (Older copies of these can also be found in library archives.)
• Internet (Employer home pages often include extensive information including their vision, mission statement, product descriptions, hiring policies and job openings. Articles in Internet publications contain information that relates to industries, occupations or employers. Internet newsgroups and email are excellent resources for networking.)
• Libraries (Most have special sections on occupations, careers and job search information. Talk to your librarian about newspaper indexes, which list recent articles about employers.)
• Colleges and university placement offices
• Chamber of Commerce or Jaycees
• Alumni Associations
• Annual reports, advertisements, employer newsletters and brochures (Often you can obtain these by contacting the employer's public relations office or personnel department.)

Sample Questions

• What products/services does the employer provide?
• How many employees does the employer have?
• How long have they been in business?
• Where is the employer located? Does it have more than one location? Is it on the bus line?
• What is the employer's mission statement or philosophy?
• What is the company's financial situation? Is it making money?
• Has the employer undergone any downsizing in the last five years?
• Is the employer involved in community services? If so, what?

Labor Market Survey

The purpose of a labor market survey is to figure out if an occupation or specific line of work is appropriate for you. A labor market survey may be conducted over the telephone, by email or on Internet newsgroups. You will want to find out about--

• Competition for available job openings
• Background and training requirements
• Prevailing wages
• Future trends of the occupation

Talking with people currently working in the occupation you're interested in is one way of getting up-to-date information about this occupation.

You will need to have a clear idea of the specific occupation or line of work that interests you. You can clarify an occupational definition by consulting the Occupational Information Network (O*Net), Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS), or other reference books available at Minnesota WorkForce Centers or your local employment service, public libraries, technical schools, colleges and universities.

Conducting a Labor Market Survey

• Identify people with knowledge about the job or occupation you're investigating. Vocational Biographies, business directories, the yellow pages, Internet newsgroups and Internet home pages are useful sources for contact information.
• Contact each person on your list. Direct your inquiries to people knowledgeable about hiring practices. Say you're seeking advice and information and that you will be brief. Explain you're seeking career information, not employment. Most people are willing to interact for a short time. It may be necessary, however, to check back. Try to get a name, then ask the person when you could contact them again.
• Prepare a short list of questions (3-5).
  • What are the background and training requirements for this occupation?
  • How many applicants do you usually have for a job opening in this field?
  • How many have you hired in the last year?
  • What is the typical entry-level wage?
  • What is the typical top wage?
  • What are the future trends for this field?
  • What recommendations could you give for someone who is considering this field?
• Write down the key comments.
• Your survey results will be more reliable if you contact several people. Contact between six and 10 people to obtain a valid sample.
• If a phone conversation is going well, you could ask if the person is willing to meet for a longer, face-to-face interview. Also ask if there is anyone else you could contact.
• Review your notes. Notice which comments were the most optimistic, the most pessimistic and whether there is agreement from those you contacted. You may want to do other research, including reading, doing in-person interviews, observing the job being done (job shadowing) or sampling tasks of the job.

Informational Interviewing

What is It?

It's not an interview for a position. It's a meeting of usually 15 to 30 minutes with a person who has hands-on experience in the area you want to know more about. The purpose of an informational interview is to help you define your career options. It's also useful in researching companies where you may want to work.

Informational Interviewing Objectives

• To gain solid information that will help you evaluate how your skills and interests dovetail with a particular career or business
• To learn what the industry or employer values in its employees
• To increase your network by leaving a positive impression with someone who could provide encouragement, support and future access to job leads
• To find out whether jobs are available in the field or business you want to enter
• To find out suggestions they have about the career or the employer
• To subtly market your skills in case they want to contact you when an opening occurs (Ask if they think your resume would be appropriate for their employer or this occupation.)

Who Do I Contact?

Everyone you know.

Ask, "Do you know anyone who works for General Mills?" "Do you know anyone in a nonprofit organization?" "Do you know anyone who does freelance writing?" Then, once you have a name . . .

Preparing for the Interview

Select questions relating to the occupation or business you're considering. Research key areas of potential discussion. Take an active role in the interview. Encourage suggestions. Ask questions that provide the information you want. Show your interest and knowledge.

Keep in mind that you can also ask about other things. Get a sense for whether they enjoy their work. Decide what they actually do, how they spend their day and what are their short- and long-term responsibilities. Look for the answers behind the answers.

Develop rapport with the interviewer by recognizing similar interests and being agreeable. It's important to gauge just how friendly your contacts really are. If they're sympathetic, you can ask hard questions which may reveal doubts about the field. If they're standoffish or judgmental, be cautious. Don't be afraid to ask technical questions, especially if it shows what you already know about the field. The Sample Informational Interview Questions lists questions that you may want to ask.

When You Go

This is an opportunity to meet a person in the profession you're hoping to enter. Dress professionally, take paper for writing notes and take an extra resume in case there is an opportunity to have it critiqued or to leave it with the employer.

Avoid anything that might jeopardize your interviewer's desire to refer you to other people. One important objective is getting additional leads and referrals, which may eventually lead to a job.

When It's Over

• You should have names of people to contact.
• You should follow-up on the advice the employer gives you.
• You should have a good idea if this is where you'd want to work or could work.
• Recap what you just learned or need to learn.
• Write down additional notes/thoughts/evaluation for future reference.
• Don't forget to send a thank you note to the person for being so generous with their time. Consider including a personal calling card.

"Mrs. Smith, Brad Johnson suggested I speak with you. My name is Steven Olson and I am interested in the ________ field. I could use some advice from someone who is in this field. Do you have any time this week when I could meet with you? I know you're busy, so I only need about 15 minutes of your time. I would really like to learn more about your company and the ________ field from someone like you."

You may also want to explain a little about your employment background and why this area is appealing to you.

Location

The number of jobs available in your field will likely be much greater if you are willing to consider commuting or relocating to other areas. Where you work is a very personal decision with implications for family, friends and even your way of life. At times, advancement in an organization is only possible through relocation. If you are considering relocation as an option, there are a number of websites that have tools which help you plan that move. Use a search engine to look for "relocation resources."

• Ask for a business card which will give you the information needed for the thank you note.

• What is a typical day on this job really like?
• How did you get into this field?
• What do you like about your job? Any dislikes?
• What's the best way to find out about jobs in this field?
• What kind of experience or training is required?
• What is the career ladder for this position?
• May I have a copy of a job description?
• What are employers looking for (skills, education, experience)?
• How important is the resume and what makes one impressive?
• What do you look for in employees?
• How do you stay current in your knowledge?
• What's the corporate culture like here?
• Are there related fields I might want to look into if few jobs are available in my primary career goal?
• What are current job prospects like?
• What are the most important parts of your job?
• Is your job typical of others in this field?
• Which firms do you think are your toughest competitors, and how do they differ from your company?
• Is there anyone else you can refer me to in this field?
• How do you normally hire for this occupation?
• What is the average turnover in this type of job?
• Is my resume appropriate for this occupation?
• What would you recommend I do at this point to get into this field?
• Would you provide feedback as to the appropriateness of my resume for this occupation?
• What are the future trends for this field?

Creative Job Search is a service of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

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