Researching Employers

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[edit] 1 Employer Research — Library Research Guide

Rev. 8.1.2008 (KM)

Researching prospective employers is a vital step in the job search process.

Research can help you to:

  • Develop a list of employers to target in your job search.
  • Prepare for an interview with a prospective employer.

Being able to converse intelligently about the company you are interviewing with will create a favorable impression.

Types of Information to Research:

  • The company`s status (public, private or nonprofit)
  • Size and structure of the organization
  • Headquarters and branch locations
  • Potential new and already existing products or services
  • Management philosophy and style
  • Promotional path
  • Potential new and already existing products or services
  • Type of training programs
  • Financial health of the organization
  • Trends and issues in the industry
  • Relationship of the organization to its competitors
  • Current news stories

Click here to view the Researching Employers Workshop presentation.

Different types of resources and access levels are indicated by:

  • Print Resources Books.gif are located in the Library`s Reference Collection or behind the Reference Desk. These materials are for in library use only.
  • Electronic Resources Database.jpg are subscription databases. These resources are available to members of the Bentley Community on-campus. Off-campus access is available by using your Bentley e-mail address and network password.
  • Websites Web.jpg are internet resources that are free.

[edit] 2 COMPANY RESOURCES

[edit] 2.1 Where can I find and generate lists of target companies?

  • D & B Million Dollar Directory Database.jpg
    • Provides directory information for North American Companies with sales greater than 1 million dollars or with employee size greater than 20. Selecting the Advanced Search allows you to target companies using a number of different critera. See below:

DBAdvancedScreen.jpg

  • Plunkett`s Research Online Database.jpg
    • Plunkett`s company profiles can be searched by company name, specific criteria or by keywords. US and non-US company profiles are included. Data is updated weekly. See below:

Plunkcriteriak.jpg

  • ReferenceUSA Database.jpg
    • The ReferenceUSA database contains detailed information on more than 14 million U.S. businesses. ReferenceUSA records contain contact information, corporation information, company descriptions, management directories, and competitors. ReferenceUSA records allow users to view a company`s Corporate Family Tree. The custom search feature in ReferenceUSA allows users to set up a personalized search form to help identify and compare companies. Custom search options include business type, geography, business size and ownership type...including ownership by a foreign parent. See below:

Refusak.jpg

[edit] 2.1.1 Where can I find and generate lists of target companies that have an international parent or foreign subsidiaries?

  • Directory of Foreign Firms Operating in the United States Books.gif (1 volume) REF DESK HG4057 .A21943 2008
    • Contains over 4,100 foreign firms headquartered in 82 countries and over 18,250 businesses in the U. S. that they own, wholly, or in part. The foreign headquarters and selected locations of each branch, subsidiary or affiliate in the U. S. are listed. (--Introduction)
  • Directory of American Firms Operating in Foreign Countries Books.gif (4 volumes) REF DESK HG4538 .A1 D5 2006
    • Source of 4,060 American Firms who have 63,200 branches, subsidiaries or affiliates in 191 countries. Volume 1-part one lists American Firms that have operations abroad and volume 1-part two, volume 2, 3 and 4 list the American Firms` foreign operations by country. (--Introduction)
  • International Businesses(Reference USA) Database.jpg
    • International Businesses from OneSource is a database which contains in-depth company profiles on 3 million international companies, including key executives and detailed financial information. Great for research on large companies and their foreign parents and subsidiaries. The Advanced Search feature allows users to set up a personalized search form to help identify target companies. See below:

Onesource.jpg

Of Note: Remember to go back into International Businesses to search your company name in the basic search screen to view a comprehensive report on that specific company.

[edit] 2.2 Where can I find a company`s address, ticker symbol, status (private or public), SIC/NAICS code, etc.?

[edit] 2.3 Where can I find information about a companys assets and liabilities, financial status, working capital, stock activity, ranking and other recent developments and prospects?

  • Value Line Research Center Database.jpg
    • Provides current quarterly reports covering approximately 3,500 publicly traded companies.
  • Standard & Poor`s Net Advantage Database.jpg
    • Provides access to S&P`s Stock Guides, Dividend Records & Corporation Records
  • LexisNexis Academic Database.jpg
    • Provides information on public, private and international companies. Search by company name in the Company Information box in the lower right hand corner of the main page.

[edit] 2.4 Where can I find a companys annual report?

  • Thomson Research Database.jpg
    • Provides corporate reports and company financials from 1995 to present. Includes 10-Ks, 10-Qs, tear-sheets, stock quotes, and daily, weekly and monthly stock graphs.
  • LexisNexis Academic Database.jpg
    • Click on Business and then SEC Filings & Reports

[edit] 2.5 Where can I find a company history?

[edit] 2.6 Where can I find information about company executives?

  • Plunkett`s Research Online Database.jpg
    • Thousands of company profiles can be searched by company name or keywords. Scroll down to the Job Seekers/Careers section of this database.
  • Standard & Poor`s Net Advantage Database.jpg
    • Under the Companies tab, select Register Executives from the Advanced Search dropdown menu to identify corporate relationships and obtain biographical information on executives.
  • Who`s Who in Finance & Business Books.gif REF HF3023 .A2 W5

[edit] 2.7 Where can I find information about a company`s products?

[edit] 2.8 What is the simplest way to find a companys market share or key competitors?

[edit] 3 INDUSTRY RESOURCES

[edit] 3.1 Where can I find industry surveys?

[edit] 3.2 Where can I find information about the market segments of an industry?

[edit] 3.3 Where can I find Information about smaller specialized industries?

  • Financial Studies of the Small Business Books.gif REF HD2346.U5 F55A Annual
    • Provides Ratios for small businesses.
  • Small Business Profiles Books.gif REF DESK HD62.7 .S62
    • Provides information on financing, marketing, licensing, determining costs and insurance needs of small businesses.

[edit] 4 NEWS RESOURCES

[edit] 4.1 Where can I find the full text of local, regional or international business newspapers?

  • Factiva Database.jpg
    • Includes content from nearly 8,000 sources. Factiva is also a source of local, regional & international news sources.
    • Use the Company Quick Search to find a company profile which will include the latest news available for your company.
  • LexisNexis Academic Database.jpg
    • Provides access to local, regional & international newspapers.
  • ProQuest Database.jpg
    • Indexes more than 1,300 business periodicals with over 750 in full text.
    • Provides access to the full text of The Wall Street Journal.

[edit] 5 WEB RESOURCES

Additional information may be accessed through the World Wide Web. Try using:

  • A companys home page

For example Reebok International Ltd.

  • A parent companys homepage

For example Allied-Domecq PLC (The parent of Dunkin Donuts)

  • An industry associations homepage

For example Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants

Please note: a good resource for finding an industry`s association is to use the Encyclopedia of AssociationsBooks.gif REF DESK HS17 .G332

  • Career Specific Websites:
    • Bentley Career Services
    • Wetfeet Guides Web.jpg
      • Provides insider information on companies and industries.
      • Many of the WetFeet publications are available in the Library`s print Careers Collection.
    • Vault Guides Web.jpg
      • Offers employer profiles and industry guides with revealing information about major corporations including current company activities and work environments.
      • Access to the online website is available through Bentley Career Services
      • Many of the Vault publications are available in the Library`s print Careers Collection.
    • Career Journal Web.jpg Available from the Wall Street Journal. Especially useful for finding salary information.

[edit] 6 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Further career counseling assistance is available for Undergraduate Students and Alumni from the Miller Center for Undergraduate Career Services in Room 270 LaCava Campus Center (781-891-2375). Assistance for Graduate Students is available from the Miller Center for Career Services in Room 275 LaCava Campus Center (781-891-2164).

This research guide was designed by the Bentley Library and Career Services to assist students with starting their research. The Bentley Library owns and has access to additional resources not listed above. If you are having a problem finding the information you need, assistance is available at the Reference Desk. You may access research helpin a number of ways.

For print materials regarding career planning, occupations and job searching please check out the Careers Collection.

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