Vanderbilt Career Center

There are many times throughout your journey you will want to learn as much as you can about an industry or organization which will require you to research. Lucky for you, you already have a great deal of experience researching through the courses you have taken at Vanderbilt. You have probably found that organization is the key to success and that research takes time. So it is wise to begin researching long before you need to use the information. You may find reams of information, but you must be able to sort through it to find the key information. Additionally, some information may be difficult to find, so it may take a considerable investment of time.

Connect with the VCC to Maximize your Research

If you haven't already connected with the VCC, you may want to start by completing the ICAP online and then stop by the Career Center to meet with a Career Coach for a Coaching Assessment. During this time the VCC staff can help you with identifying resources that can assist you in your research.

Throughout your search you'll want to do as much as you can to learn about potential employers and industries. The information you find can help you stand out from your competition. Whether you're preparing a cover letter, resume, or getting ready to, you'll want to learn more about the organization and industry. Not only will this be important in helping you determine if this is a place you might want to work, but employers want to be confident that you know who they are and how your skills connect with their organization's needs specifically.

Here are some suggestions to get you started in your research. For assistance in using these methods and tools to their fullest potential, come for a coaching assessment!

The best source of information comes from those individuals who are currently in the organization, industry, or type of position in which you are interested. Informational interviewing allows you to get an insiders perspective, learn the things you can't find on the organization's website, and adds a contact in your network. VUconnect is a network of Vanderbilt alumni, students, and friends worldwide. It is a great place to start connecting with individuals you already have something in common with, the Vanderbilt experience! If you haven't registered for this system, visit the VUConnect registration site.

While speaking with people is one of the best means of gathering research, there are many other online resources that can be helpful. CareerSearch is a tool the VCC has available that allows you to access a networking database of over 4 million companies nationwide. Not only does it allow you to learn about parent companies, headquarters, and subsidiaries, but it also provides industry-specific sources like professional associations and journals.

Looking for industry information? Vault is a great resource for getting an overview of an industry. Within the online Vault books you can learn the language of the industry: "What does it mean to construct a financial model?"; "What is the trafficking side of the house in an advertising firm?" You will also find information about the paths of career progression within an industry, who the major players are, and so much more.

Jean Heard Library's website has a variety of business periodicals and newspapers many that can be found online! These business databases can assist you in finding articles about both the organization you are researching and also its competition. A few you may want to start looking at are Annualreports.com, Hoover's, and S&P netadvantage. If you need assistance stop by the library and share with a reference librarian what information you are seeking.

Glassdoor is an online resource that provides company reviews and salary information for more than 20,000 companies. To access this site send an email from your Vanderbilt.edu account to students@glassdoor.com and you will receive a free full access student account.

So what information should you be gathering? Here is a research worksheet that may assist you in beginning to organize the research you gather.

Resources

• Individualized Coaching Action Plan (ICAP)
• Coaching Assessment
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Interviewing
• Informational Interviews
• VUconnect
• CareerSearch
• Vault
• Jean Heard Library
• Glassdoor
• Research Worksheet