As you begin to conduct employer research, it’s important to know the following.
- Sources of employer information vary by organization type. You will need to utilize different resources when researching companies, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions.
- It is generally easier to find information about publicly owned companies versus private ones because companies traded on a stock exchange are required by law to make certain kind of information available to stockholders and the general public.
- You will likely need to use multiple resources – no one library or web site will have all the materials that you need. Additionally, it’s often beneficial to interview people during the research process since printed information may be out of date, incomplete, or unavailable. Bottom line: You cannot “cram” when conducting this type of research…do not wait until the evening before an interview to start investigating the employer!
- Ohio State’s Business Library subscribes to a number of databases that provide company information. Some of these resources are available via the Business Library’s web site while others can only be accessed from within the library. (The Business Library is open to ALL Ohio State students and there are Reference Librarians available to assist you!)
- Some of the publications found in the Business Library (e.g., Hoover’s Online) are available by going directly to the vendor’s web site. However, the information that you can access for free on these sites is not as comprehensive as that found by accessing the subscription-based publication via the Business Library.
