Researching Specific Organizations

After you have narrowed down which industry and occupation you would like to work, it is time to begin researching specific organizations. There are many resources available to help you in your search and a tremendous amount of information is available over the world-wide web. When you research a specific organization, some of the specific items to look at include:

• annual reports
• stock reports
• organization charts
• press releases
• public relations offices of the specific company
• local newspapers

When exploring different companies, think about the things that are important to you such as flexible work hours, medical and dental insurance or perhaps bonuses such as profit sharing or stock options. As you explore various companies to see if they are a good fit, it would be valuable to determine what makes a company ideal. Below are 12 things that are covered in the book, The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America, by Levering, Moscowitz and Katz.

1. Make people feel they are part of a team/family.
2. Encourage open communication. Inform employees of new developments, offer suggestions, complaints.
3. Promote from within. Let its own people bid for jobs before hiring from the outside.
4. Stress quality; enable people to feel pride in products and services.
5. Allow employees to share in profit.
6. Reduce distinctions of rank. Everyone on a first name basis.
7. Create a good work environment.
8. Encourage employees to be active in community service by giving money to organizations in which employees participate.
9. Help employees save by matching the funds they save.
10. Avoid layoffs by first making an effort to place workers in other jobs within the company.
11. Encourage good health. Provide fitness centers, exercise and medical programs within organizations.
12. Expand skills, develop training and tuition reimbursement programs.

Some important information follows:

It Starts at the Library:

Researching Companies and Organizations:

Researching Industries, Government, and Non-Profits:

What to find out about Companies:

Websites: