You have many sources of information at your disposal such as the internet to make yourself well equipped with the needed information that gives you an edge. So take full advantage of the web pages.
Company web sites
The best place to search is the corporate web site of the company you want to join. Forget not to check its annual reports. Lay your hands on the recent press releases. Study the job posting details to get a hang of how the position you are seeking is related to the company's mission. Your search doesn't stop there. Use the web pages of the company to know the hiring manager and others of the interview board. Look for their bio-data or press releases that give you the back ground of the probable interviewers and their activities at the helm of affairs.
Next Step
Your next step is to get hold of vital statistics and unbiased reports on the potential employer. Hoover's Online provides thumbnail sketches of the company's people in high positions, financial data and a list of competitors of large corporations. You can depend on mutual fund accounts with a major stock broker as they give a detailed history of the publicly traded companies and industries. You can as well contact rivals of the company to get the potential employer's financials.
Newspaper reports
Make an attempt for better understanding and see what general and trade journals and web sites say about the potential employer and its industry. You can go to News Link that may give you good background. Look at national publications for news on major big companies and the local publications for information on small businesses. Media outlets like Refdesk and bizijournals offer information on companies and industries.
Trade journals
Narrow your search to the target company and find out where it stands in the industry. Here trade journals give you a lot of information. Peep into a few issues of relevant journals to get a hang of the products and the company. Universities and public libraries are a great source you can tap. Periodical databases like ProQuest and InfoTrac also give you the information you need.
Grapevine help
Through your search you might have noted down some specific questions on your potential employer company and the position you are seeking. Take the help of the grapevine by contacting workers of the target company or your friends. If you are a member of a professional organization, get hold of its directory and some other directories that throw light on the company in question. Networking services can also help you to contact the people in the company.
By the way Google can be of great help. When you Google the company you may come across some valuable information you might have missed.
