Researching Prospective Employers
When preparing for an interview, it is imperative to have an in depth understanding about the company or organization. Most of this information can be gathered online through sites like and , or on the employer’s website. Resources are also available at the IU Southeast library or the Career Development Center in University Center 106. You can also utilize your own network – friends, family, faculty, classmates – to gain connections to or information about a company you’re interested in.
Before interviewing, you should gather the following information:
- Complete name of the organization with location details.
- Telephone number with area code
- Location of the interview and any special instructions about parking or building entry
- Name and title of the person who will be conducting the interview.
- The size of the organization. Some employers are evaluated on the number of locations, number of employees, sales volume, assets, etc. Select one or more measures to indicate if this is a small, medium or large organization relative to others in its field.
- Industry, product line(s), or services offered. In short, what does this employer do? Especially note the areas of activity of the location conducting the interview.
- Who are the company’s competitors? Be able to name them.
- Research recent (last 24 months) news articles about this employer. If this is a local employer, don't forget to check the Courier-Journal and Business First.
