- Obtain product knowledge
- Launch a new business looking for suppliers, customers or competition
- Prepare for your first interview and know what questions to ask
- Prepare more extensively for a second interview
Jumping Off Points
The Internet is your first step to find out about products and services. Keep abreast by reading the daily business section to keep up-to-date on news and trends in many industries. Doing an Internet search is a good way to find news about a particular industry.
Industry Canada, the federal government’s main business site, provides statistics, industry news, processing information, financing and funding options. It can provide a big picture of business operations in Canada, including sector and trade announcements and tax information.
Also check out FRASERS.com, a database of industrial suppliers and manufacturers. As well, look at Sedar, which provides documents such as earnings statements for publicly traded Canadian companies, and the Canadian Trade Index, a voluntary listing of manufacturers by trade specialty.
Another idea is to see if the industry you are interested in has a sector council. If so, this is where you’ll find the latest research, training and main employers in your industry. There are more than 30 sector councils covering everything from seafood to steel. You’ll find out about the challenges facing the industry as well as who the key players are. The councils' websites also contain links to upcoming conferences, periodicals and training opportunities.
You should also use your local Employment Resource Centre or the Toronto Reference Library to find company directories.
While there, look for The Toronto Board of Trade publications, as they are updated on a regular basis and contain information about Toronto-based companies. One directory put out by the board is Contact Toronto 2007/08: An Annual Who's Who of Top Employers, Executives and Decision Makers in the Toronto Region.
Don't overlook Scott’s Directories, which are available in print, CD and online. Scott's in-depth contact information database captures business data from the largest multinationals to small businesses.
You might also come up with some ideas from trade periodicals that you can sometimes find through regulatory or professional associations.
Impressing Employers
Got the job interview? Want to make a good impression? Our interview toolkit is a good pre-interview read and includes useful downloads as well as tips on researching prospective employers. You should aim to go into interviews with an understanding of the following:
- The opportunities that might exist for you in this company
- The company's financial profile
- Major players in the sector and direct competitors
- The company's corporate structure, products and subsidiaries
Finding this information ahead of time allows you to generate questions to ask at the end of the job interview and to demonstrate your knowledge about and your interest in the organization.
Starting a Business
If you want to start your own business and aren't independently wealthy, you are going to need investors. Investing is a big risk and people need to feel confident that your product, service or idea has been well thought out. Being well-researched in your field is crucial to producing a solid business plan and getting financial backing. Here are a few leads to get you started.
- Visit Enterprise Toronto for self-help business advice.
- Find a copy of the Toronto Business Directory, just one of the resources available at Enterprise Toronto centres. This directory has over 85,000 company names and contacts.
- Check out the competition and make a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) a fundamental part of your marketing plan.
Go to our entrepreneurial toolkit for more information and research tips.
