Hit the Books

Employers generally are impressed when job candidates make the interview a two-way street by posing questions of their own - that is, unless the questions reveal a basic lack of knowledge about the company.

Better-prepared candidates will eclipse a jobseeker who does not bother to research a company.

But coming across as knowledgeable is not the only reason to thoroughly research a prospective employer. Assessing the company's solidity and whether it would be a rewarding place to work also are important.

"In considering any job opportunity, particularly in a volatile economy, jobseekers need to understand the company's financial status, who its competitors are and how it compares with its competitors in revenues and profitability," says executive recruiter Robert Hoberman, RW Consulting Group, Holmdel, N.J.

They also need to sleuth out whether the company has downsized recently, is a target of a merger or acquisition or is in danger of going out of business, he adds.

Another reason to do research is to "get a sense of whether the company and its culture is a match for you," says career consultant Andrea Kay, author of "Work's a Bitch and Then You Make it Work" (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2009).

"You don't want to take a job with any old company. You want to make sure it's the right place for you."

Look for indications that the company's philosophy aligns with your own, that employees are treated well and are happy and that public opinion about the organization is positive.

An investigation starts with the employer's own Web site. Is the company's mission statement meaningful? Can you wholeheartedly get behind it?

Which news items are highlighted? This will give you a sense of the company's priorities, says Kay, who lives in Cincinnati.

Publicly held companies might post their annual reports online because they're required to report certain financial information to shareholders.

These will show the company's financial standing, recent accomplishments and plans for the following year, Hoberman says.

If not posted on the company's site, annual and quarterly reports can be found on the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission's Web site, sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

You should also check out the corporate profile at Hoovers.com.

Also, do a general Internet search. "People talk about companies all over the Internet," Kay says. "Take what you read with a grain of salt, but notice when an overwhelming number of comments say the same thing."

Your local library might provide you with access to subscription databases so you can look up articles to see what's been written about the company.

You can also conduct a free article search at bnet.com.

In light of your detective work, turn your magnifying glass to your résumé. "Think of how you can show off your skills and accomplishments in a way that tiers to the company's needs and plans," and revise the resume accordingly, Hoberman says.

Your research should also inform what you emphasize in an interview, enabling you to sound "more knowledgeable, more professional and closer to being the perfect fit than someone who doesn't have a clue about the company," Kay says.

What you learn about the company before and after the interview "can help you decide whether a move to this place would be a plus or a huge blunder," she adds.

"Overall, it helps you develop a sixth sense of what a company is like."

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