Here's How You Can Research Potential Employers Before Applying for a Job

When job hunting, it can be tempting to apply for the first job vacancy that comes your way. But you should treat your job search like a new purchase by researching companies first to make sure they match your goals and interests. You don't want to apply for a job and attend the interview — or worse, accept an offer — only to find out that there's been a mismatch expectations and reality.

So how can you start your research? Before applying, make sure you have answers to these key questions.

1. What does the future of the industry look like?

Being aware of the growth prospects of companies you are interested in — and how their industry will be impacted by disruption — can help focus your job search on those industries that could offer you job security and career growth.

Reliable news sources and business/financial publications can help you stay updated on where the economy is headed. Most importantly, keep track of official announcements from the government, like those from the Ministry of Manpower, especially on their initiatives to boost specific industries and programmes aimed at helping individuals find employment.

Understanding such developments can help you prioritise job applications to companies that might have a higher chance of hiring within your own industry, or even help you decide on courses to upskill for jobs in a different industry altogether.

2. Do your personality and skills match the role?

Before you begin applying for jobs, prepare a list of all your skills, qualities and areas for improvement — in both work and personal lives — and see how well they match up with those given, or implied, in the job roles you are interested in. A useful starting point is the Holland Code Personality Test, which categorises your personality type into these categories based on your traits — Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional — and suggests the most suitable occupations. You can also use MyCareersFuture in your job hunt to gauge if your skills match with the opportunities you're interested in.

3. What does the company value?

Even if a role looks to be a good match for your skills, it’s still important to find out about the company’s values and whether they align with yours, the workplace culture and the direction the company is heading towards. You can get a better sense of these by visiting its corporate website, social media pages such as Facebook or LinkedIn, and corporate blog.

Does the company state its values clearly and do they resonate with you? Are there any indicators of its organisational culture? For example, does the company provide employee benefits that you might value? See if its social media posts mentions employees or showcases team-building activities — it could give an insight into the type of working environment and the average employee’s work-life balance.

Knowing the company’s stance on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its initiatives could also help you better understand the culture.

4. What is the future of the company?

Find out recent news coverage about the company on the web. Look out for positive developments like growth and expansion plans, new product releases and awards to get an idea of the financial strength and reputation of the company. You should also see if there are any news stories on hiring freezes, salary disputes and major organisational restructuring that could hint about its financial stability and your prospective job security.

If you're looking for more career advice, visit MyCareersFuture for articles to help you on your career journey.

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