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Answer from targetjobs.co.u..., Thu, 22/10/2009 - 08:16:

Hi You don’t say, but I’m assuming this question is on an application or something you are preparing for an interview? Researching the employer is the key. You’re looking into the firm and the market in which it works to try to identify how it might respond to immediate challenges and how it might look ahead strategically to open up longer term business opportunities. Make sure you are clear about: what the firm does and the types of service it provides; who its main clients are and what their market is like (competitive, depressed, buoyant, rapidly changing, stagnant…); who the firm’s competitors are (and what they are doing); what key projects and contracts the firm is currently engaged in; how the firm markets itself to the clients it wants to attract (what value and expertise is being offered and why do potential clients need it!). Remember that challenges aren’t necessarily negative – they are more often a springboard for organisations to grow and move into new areas. If you come across questions like this, it is always wise to do the research legwork as you may have to discuss the topic further in an interview to highlight how you formed your response. For more help researching employers take a look at the ‘Choosing an employer’ section in ‘Careers advice’. You can also download an employer research checklist in ‘Job hunting tools downloads'. Best wishes Gill@targetjobs.co.uk