Overview

Any effective job search starts with the prep work: learning about the industry or field, locating the jobs, discovering what companies are looking for, where the next innovations are coming from and what the potential for growth is across various engineering disciplines.

Whether you are researching an industry, a job category, or a particular employer, you will be acquiring information to help you make an informed decision about the direction of your job search. The information you gain while conducting this research will help you craft a resume that stands out and reflects your knowledge of the field. It will also impress the prospective employer during interviews, communicating to them that you are knowledgeable about the industry, serious about your job search, and genuinely interested in their organization.

So, how will you find out what areas to focus on and where each company's interests and strengths lie? With research.

Industry News
If you're interested in exploring a particular industry more in depth, you need to know more about what's happening specifically with the key players in the field, as well the more general industry-wide trends. Which company has introduced a new blockbuster product? Which firm just bought out which? Which CEO has just stepped down?

• Newspapers: Begin by scanning your local newspaper's business section, as well as the business coverage in national and international news outlets like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, BBC News Online, or CNN. But don't stop at the business section. Many industries are newsmakers in and of themselves. For example, you're likely to find coverage of the pharmaceutical industry in the science section, or the energy industry making headlines in political sections.

• Trade Publications: Another set of publications to review regularly are the industry trade magazines. Magazines like these report on all facets of a particular industry and can help you start researching the companies you intend to target. Information in these publications is generally the most current information available on new products and innovations. In the industry modules to follow, we provide industry-specific trade publications and other resources to help you with your research.

Corporate Profiles and History

• In print: Company information, profiles, and overviews can be found in print publications like Standard and Poor's Register of Corporations, Ward's Business Directory of Largest U.S. Companies, and local Chamber of Commerce and state manufacturers' directories.

• On campus: Your school's Office of Career Services is an excellent resource for this sort of information as well since many offer access to a library of corporate or business research materials and employer recruiting literature.

• Online: Online business information sites like Hoover's Online gives overviews of the companies, their top executives, and their competitors. Career information sites like The Vault or Wet Feet provide industry hiring and salary trends, reviews of companies from current and potential employees as well as job listings.
  
  Once you've identified a few companies that you think you'd be interested in working for, visit their websites to gain more information. Most company websites include not only information on product lines but also company history. In addition to providing information about the company itself, most company websites also have links for employment opportunities.