Finding out about employers

Researching employers when applying for graduate jobs etc

Why do I need to know about employers?

Employers expect candidates to have researched their organisation before making an application for a particular job.

You will need to consider making speculative applications to find out about possible vacancies, especially with smaller companies.

In order to do this you will need to to do some research into the companies and this may take time and patience. You will need to look into the company information and use your judgement to decide whether there are any potential opportunities that you can use for your purposes.

What sort of information do I need to know?

You should have a clear understanding of:

What the employer does (e.g. products; services; size and structure of the organisation);
Current issues affecting the employer's business interests (e.g. stock market trends; legislation affecting them; company mergers);
What the job for which you are applying involves;
What sort of person the employer is looking for.

Where will I find this information?

These resources can help you find out about prospective employers:

1. Visit their website

You can visit their website to find out more about the organisation and job role before you apply. If the information is not provided, then try contacting them by telephone or email; they will often be happy to supply information on the company or the industry generally and the job in which you are interested.

2. Employer directories

There are employer directories (online or paper copy) that you can search for details of prospective employers, for example:

Kompass (www.kompass.com)
Kelly Search (www.kellysearch.co.uk)
Prospects (www.prospects.ac.uk)
Guardian UK 300 (http://targetjobs.co.uk/uk300/home)
Target jobs (GTI) (http://targetjobs.co.uk)
Inside Careers (www.insidecareers.co.uk)

3. The Careers Service

The Careers Service (based in the Library) has resources that may help you find out more about prospective employers:

We have employer brochures and annual reports;
There are also employer directories such as Prospects Directory, Hobsons Directory, and the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers;
We have reference books on a range of sectors including law companies, e.g. Legal 500, Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and The Law Society's Directory of Solicitors and Barristers. Some of these are also available online.

4. Professional bodies

Professional bodies can often give you relevant information about the sector. Visit the Prospects website for details of various professional bodies.

5. University Library

The University Library will have employer directories, including: Key British Enterprises and the Kompass employer directories. The Library has a selection of company annual reports.

6. Careers fairs and events

To find out which employers will be giving presentations or attending careers fairs visit our events on campus pages. These are excellent opportunities to find out exactly what an employer is looking for.