Research employers
Who needs what you can offer? This is a great question to ask yourself when looking for work. It is a good idea to identify key organisations who you might like to work for.
Researching organisations is essential, whether it’s to decide who to apply to, how best to tailor your application or just to impress an interviewer with your knowledge of the organisation.
Find out as much as you can about organisations before you apply, such as:
- their main areas of business or objectives
- who their customers and competitors are
- current issues affecting their business e.g. stock market trends, government legislation, company mergers
Be clear about what the job you are applying for involves, and the skills and experience the employer is looking for.
Visit employer websites/social media feeds and read up on their latest news and 'About Us' sections. Graduate employers often have a dedicated careers section which can include case studies and graduate profiles. It can also be useful to check current or previous job descriptions for vacancies at a company as it can be a good way of finding out what kind of person they recruit and for what kind of role.
As a UHI student you also have access to Handshake - activate your account and you can start 'following' employers and start conversations with employers who you might be interested in working for.
Research employers online
Research employers online
These websites provide practical help, advice and information to help you with you with your search:
- TARGETjobs: Employer hubs- independent reviews about top graduate employers
- The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
- Sunday Times 100 Best Companies
- Guardian Careers article: How to research a prospective employer
- Vault- information resource for career management and job search, which includes employer profiles and rankings, and insider intelligence on salaries, hiring practices and company cultures
- Best Companies Guide
- Prospects– for Graduate Employers and Job sectors
- Glassdoor- includes company reviews, salary information and past interview questions from a wide range of employers
Listen to some key employers - Employer Insight Videos
Listen to some key employers - Employer Insight Videos
Our Employer Insights Video Suite has been filmed in collaboration with local and national employers.
The videos will help to increase your awareness of different sectors and the opportunities available, whilst building your understanding of what employers look for in terms of skills, CVs, applications, and interviews. They will provide you with an idea of sector skills demand, and also include critical areas of focus for the university, such as the Gaelic sector and our graduate attributes. Alongside the videos, you will find associated activities – a number of tasks to get you thinking and reflecting on video content, your skills, and your ambitions!
Remember - be proactive and visible, meeting employers at every opportunity. Utilise your Networking Skills and get connected.