Researching employers

Understanding what matters to you, whether it is sustainability or any other value, can help you identify if the sector and employer is an appropriate option for you. It will also help you demonstrate why you are right for the job because they are aligned with your mission and values.

• Create Your Future is a series of workshops for a large number of disciplines and you can revisit, or try, the What Matters To You exercise to identify your values.
• Values Based Indicator of Motivations: a questionnaire designed to start to distil what is most important to you.
• ​Your Skills Portfolio identifies where your strengths are, which you can also use to match yourself to an employer’s values and job description.
• Why being true to your values is so important at the University of Exeter and for your future

Research an employer to find their values and consider independent reports on their culture to identify if they are right match for you and understand more about their mission and challenges. The organisation will have its own information that is essential you read if applying to work for them, but these sites may also help.

• The University of Exeter’s Library has created a page to help you research companies and organisations for your job search​. This includes Finding Company Information which has guidance on selecting and using company information sources
• Windo is an open website designed for students compare the Sustainability, DE&I (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and Employee Wellbeing plans and progress of the world’s largest graduate employers
• Various industries identify Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) as essential you can explore whether the business’ approach to the environment, society, and how they generate returns, is practical given the current global situation. You can also consider whether the company and their investment funds match your sustainability convictions using How Sustainable to Me
• Consider if the employer has support groups for staff, an inclusive community and their policy on Widening Participation (WP) and modern slavery by researching inclusive employers
• There are lists of ‘top’ companies, based on varying criteria, examples include: High Fliers: Graduate Market Report 2024, the Complete University Guide: Survey of UK's largest employers of graduates,  The Times Top 100, Stonewall Top Global Employers, The UK 300, The JobCrowd and Rate My Placement. 
• Glassdoor is a website where you can discover what an employer and organisation is like based on personal reviews from employees.

Use your commercial awareness to demonstrate why you want to work at a particular organisation and why your values match theirs. Taking time to research the agendas and challenges facing the organisation will make your application stronger and will be essential for the interview process

• Understand Commercial Awareness and how your commercial awareness will be assessed when you are applying for job. When you’ve found a job or internship to apply for, it’s essential that you do your research into the employer as lack of background knowledge is one of the main reasons why recruiters will reject an application. 
• Commercial Awareness explained by Bright Network
• A guide to improving and developing your commercial awareness is available on Target Jobs.

• Employment Sectors: Take a look at our large range of employment sectors for more information
• Career Zone Blog - This link takes you to features on career planning on our blog. There are blogs on various careers and how to begin your career, as well as job hunting advice from students and alumni
• For advice on finding internships and work experience and finding a part time job, sign up for a session on Handshake
• Forage provides access to virtual work simulations, with some of the world’s leading companies, to explore a job role
• Find out how Sustainable a job is with How Green is your Job
• The Student Room has forums where students discuss work in different industries and sectors
• Use your Exeter email address to register and explore Employer Job Guides on Graduates First
• Prospects Job Sectors- Employment sector information and information on specific jobs within the sectors, including responsibilities, salaries, employers, and future career prospects. 

• Where Next? Up to date Information from PWC about employment sectors
• Prospects Luminate- The home of student and graduate labour market information from Prospects
• Institute of Student Employers (ISE)
• Office for National Statistics (ONS): UK labour market
• Institute of Employment Studies
• Resolution Foundation: Supporting low/medium income people to improve their living standards. 

• The Ask An Alum (Careers Q&A) is a fuss-free way to connect with University of Exeter alumni to ask careers questions. By filling in our quick and easy application form, you can be introduced to alumni working in your field of interest…whatever that may be at the time of applying
• The Career Mentor Scheme is a popular employability scheme which matches a student or graduate with an experienced professional, for sector insight and one-to-one careers advice and guidance, over a 6 month period
• Alumni panel recordings are available covering a number of subject areas and career paths. Single Sign on required to access the recordings
• Career Fairs and Employer Events are an excellent way to meet and network with employers. You can check which employers are hosting events and when the next Career Fairs are taking place on Handshake.
• Book an appointment: If you would like help with researching your career options, or know what you would like to do but don’t know how to get there.