Best Places to Do Research (Reference 4.1)

Trying to find information about what you want to know during a job or career search is a daunting task. I know because I've been there and as a career strategist and coach, I have to help my clients find the information they want. The problem is not that the information is not there, the problem is how to find it without spending enormous amounts of time filtering out the irrerelevant information. Using the Internet compounds the problem since there is so much information out there all trying to convince you that they have what you want.

In developing my career search practice in the US and in the UK, I spent a considerable amount of time looking for what I thought would be best sources for the information I knew my clients would need. I talked to others, conducted research on the Internet, and visited libraries to see what they had. While completing 12 Steps to a New Career, I prepared a list of best places to do research.

The result of my research suprised me. While the Internet was most helpful at finding current information about specifics, the library was the best place to start my search for companies, industries, and information on senior people within organizations. No, it didn't come from my poring over reams of large reference books, it came from using the library's computerized access to a wide range of resource information that I couldn't get on my own. The surprising thing was that while some of the information could be accessed at the library, much of what you will need can be accessed through the library using your personal computer at home.

My research included the following areas of information. In each section, I separate it by US, Canada, and the UK so you can focus on your country. Click on the links to go to that page for the details:

A. Research Companies and Industries