The Senior Professional's Compass: 50+ Insider Tips for Career Moves and Industry Mastery
Madan Pernati
Director | Engineering, Product Strategy, Program Management, Service Delivery, Leadership, 0→1 CoE/GCC Setup
As a seasoned professional, I've often found myself in the role of advisor to friends at various stages of their career journeys. Some come to me in the struggles of decision-making, holding multiple job offers and seeking guidance on choosing the best company. Others approach me in a more relaxed state, planning their next career move thoughtfully and wanting insights on potential companies of interest. These recurring scenarios led me to develop a comprehensive approach to researching companies. Today, I'm sharing these research steps to benefit a wider audience of professionals, whether you're actively job hunting or simply exploring future possibilities.
For senior professionals, career moves are significant decisions that should never be rushed. They demand careful consideration and thorough research. While conducting a deep search is crucial when actively considering a job move, maintaining general awareness should be an ongoing practice for all senior professionals, regardless of immediate career plans. This approach ensures you're always prepared for opportunities that may arise and keeps you well-informed about your industry landscape.
The following checklist will assist you in gathering the information needed to make informed decisions about your next career step or simply stay up-to-date with your industry. Whether you're facing an immediate decision or planning for the future, these steps will provide valuable insights to guide your professional journey.
Comprehensive Company Research Checklist: Before Applying and Joining
? General Awareness of Companies You May Have Interest In:
Initial Actions:
? Decide on the business segment(s) you're interested in
? Shortlist potential companies
? Bookmark or save company websites for easy access
? Subscribe to company newsletters via their websites
? Subscribe to company's youtube and other social media platforms
? Follow companies, founders, and C-suite executives on LinkedIn and other social media platforms
? Follow marketing heads and other key executives on social media
? Identify partners listed on company website, LinkedIn posts, or news articles
? Follow these partners and repeat the research steps for a broader network view
Ongoing Actions:
? Regularly review company's social media posts and content
? Monitor company blog for insights into culture and priorities
? Track recent news articles and press releases about the company
? Observe the social media updates composure in terms of new product launches, customer success stories, new executive onboarding, new partnerships, new region expansions and related variations
? For listed companies, check updates in the "Investors" section of the website or on stock exchange websites
? Attend company webinars and virtual events that are meant for public
? Track company's business events and note other attendee companies of interest
? Stay updated on company's mission statement, vision, and strategic goals
? Continuously evaluate company's market position and direct competitors
? Assess industry growth trends and potential disruptive factors
? Try to identify company owners and understand the decision-making structure
Pro tip: Identify key industry events in your target business segment. Check event websites and social media platforms for list of exhibitors and attendees. This efficient method quickly builds an authentic database of companies operating in your specific field of interest.
? Deep Search (Especially for Senior Roles):
Financial and Valuation Data:
? Crunchbase, PitchBook, CB Insights, Tracxn, Dealroom: Check funding status, valuation estimates, and other financial details
? For Indian companies - Tofler.in, Zauba Corp: Review annual statements and ROC filings (This may costs under Rs. 1000 based on the platform you chose and you may get last 3 years annual reports)
? Analyze financial reports (for both public and private companies):
? Study revenue growth trends
? Examine profitability ratios
? Assess cash flow stability
? Review debt levels
? Understand company's equity structure in terms of founders breakdown, active founders vs external investors
Pro tip: Pull this data only when you are nearly certain that you have considered the company by weighing all other factors that are unrelated to the data in the annual reports.
Employee Insights:
? LinkedIn:
? Analyze profiles of employees in similar positions
? Calculate average tenure in the company
? Note frequency of promotions
? Observe career progression patterns within the organization
? Review HR-related posts for insights into culture and hiring practices
? Track career moves of ex-employees to understand career prospects
? Glassdoor, Ambitionbox, Google: Check employee reviews
? Glassdoor and other salary comparison websites: Check executive compensation trends and average salaries
Pro tip: Company reviews can vary across platforms. Analyze employee feedback across multiple sites, considering the timing and frequency of reviews. Look for patterns of improvement or decline over time (e.g., a shift from mostly positive to mostly negative reviews in the past year).
Pro tip: Employees typically write reviews for two main reasons: extreme dissatisfaction or exceptional appreciation. Those with neutral experiences often don't bother to leave feedback. While negative reviews may stem from genuine issues, some could result from misunderstandings or misinterpretations of company policies. Always consider the context and look for specific, detailed comments to form a balanced view.
Company Strategy and Operations:
? Evaluate company's innovation pipeline and R&D investments
? Assess company's approach to digital transformation
? Investigate company's risk management strategies
? Evaluate company's global presence and expansion strategies
? Try company's products or services as a customer if possible
? Check for patents or intellectual property owned by the company
? Review competitors' market position and strategies
领英推荐
? Assess company's executive talent acquisition and retention strategies
? Understand company's approach to diversity and inclusion
? Check for the existence of Chief People Officer (CPO) or Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) roles
? For listed companies, go to Investor Centre section of the website and check the Investor Presentations and Annual Reports to better understand the state of things in terms of products, services along with their scope and roadmap
Pro tip: Check the presence of strong leaders in the company who are active on social media and check the possibility of your role interactions with them.
Governance and Compliance:
? Research board structure and corporate governance practices
? Search for any legal issues or controversies involving the company
? Check the company's stance on corporate social responsibility and sustainability
? Understand regulatory environment of the company's industry
? For listed companies, examine feedback and discussions on moderated investor forums
? Research ownership structure and profiles of key decision-makers in depth
? Evaluate the company's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, and how they are embedded in governance practices
? Assess diversity in board composition, including gender, race, and background
Pro tip: When evaluating companies, look for those with diverse board expertise. Seek boards with members having complementary skills in areas like legal, finance, and industry-specific knowledge. Also, check for diversity in gender, race, and background among board members. Such diversity often leads to stronger decision-making and reflects a company's commitment to equity and inclusion.
Pro tip: Consider unlisted companies with two or more active co-founders. Data suggests these companies often have higher success rates in reaching subsequent growth phases such as IPOs, acquisitions, or long-term sustainability, compared to those with fewer founders.
Role-Specific Research:
? Understand the level of the role you're applying for (e.g., senior leadership, management)
? Evaluate how the role fits into the company's overall strategy
? Research the immediate leader for the role you're applying for, as your experience often depends significantly on this person
? Determine if the role you're applying for is new, existing, or a replacement
? Determine if the role you're applying is inside an existing department or a new initiative
Pro tip: Some of these questions you may ask during your interviews and early stage discussions.
Pro tip: Analyze company-wide job postings over company's career sites, LinkedIn to gain insights on tech stack, projects, skill gaps, and collaboration opportunities, enabling you to tailor your application and demonstrate comprehensive understanding during interviews.
The research process outlined above significantly enhances your understanding of:
? Industry trends and key players
? Organizational structures and leadership styles
? Emerging technologies and innovation landscape
? Competitive dynamics and market positioning strategies
The knowledge and insights gained from this comprehensive research are invaluable. They enhance your professional acumen, refine your strategic thinking, and ultimately increase your leadership value. Whether you're actively seeking a new role or simply staying informed about your industry, this research process will keep you well-prepared for future opportunities and challenges.
Remember, while all these factors are important, your experience in a new role often depends significantly on your immediate leader. Pay special attention to this aspect during your research and interview process.
Pro tip: If you're short on time or need quick insights, consider using AI language models like ChatGPT for initial research. They can offer general information about company structures and industry trends. However, be aware that AI can sometimes produce inaccurate information or "hallucinations." Always verify important details from official company sources or reputable industry publications. Use AI-generated information as a starting point, not a definitive source.
Final Thoughts
It's important to note that all the research mentioned above can be conducted without necessarily speaking to anyone at your future company. While some individuals choose to contact current employees for insights, it’s possible that you may not hear back for various reasons, and that’s perfectly normal. Don’t get discouraged if this happens; instead, focus on gathering information through other avenues until you feel confident in your understanding.
However, despite all your due diligence, there's always a chance you could still end up with a bad leader, an unhealthy company culture, or a struggling organization. This is a reality of navigating the job market. If this happens, don’t be discouraged. The cycle of research and decision-making might need to repeat itself. Stay proactive, and always look for opportunities to improve your situation.
I'm curious to hear from fellow senior professionals: Have you conducted a deep search before joining a company? How did it impact your decision and subsequent experience? Please share your insights in the comments below.
Useful Resources:
Individual Member profiles
Financial information and Corporate structure
? www.tofler.in (India specific)
? www.zaubacorp.com (India specific)
Employee Reviews and Payscale Ranges
Indicative Organisation Charts
Executive Leader | Turning Marketing Innovation into Revenue Growth & Transformation into Savings | Marketing Automation Expert | AI-Driven Strategy Expert | Global Team Builder | ISB-Certified Product Manager
2 个月This guide sounds super helpful for anyone looking to level up their career! ?? Definitely gonna check it out for some insider tips.