Dear Insoder:

Make it your mission to know what the organization does, where it's headed and how healthy it is. You want to know if it's bleeding red ink or the object of a lawsuit.

Start by visiting the company's online press room. Then go to Google's Usenet search service to tap into chat-type info you won't find on the company's site. Also, check professional organizations to which the company may belong. Yahoo offers a comprehensive list at dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy.

You can get Securities and Exchange Commission filings for public companies at ftp.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html, according to Anne Clifford, Network Computing's research manager and an expert on ferreting out information.

Researching private companies is harder, but doable. Try Hoovers.com, Corptech.com or CEOexpress.com, or purchase a comprehensive report from D&B (www.dnb.com/us). Fortune offers links to some business articles at www.fortune.com/fortune/fortune500, and check out www.newspaperlinks.com or www.bizjournals.com/search.html. For nonprofits, go to www.guidestar.org.

Finally, investigate the company culture. Try www.workingwounded.com/watercooler or www.vault.com. Prior to your interview, consider a visit to schmooze the receptionist and get an insider perspective. Are you surrounded by shirts and ties, or pantyhose and heels? Not good if you're a T-shirt person. And drive by the parking lot in the evening to see if people regularly work late, especially if you're a 9-to-5er.

Once you get to the interview, point out those IT initiatives that match your technical skills, education and experience. This is where all that background research will give you the edge.



Dear Career Coach:
Are office romances still taboo? A co-worker and I have dated a few times and disagree on whether we need to keep it a secret. He sees nothing wrong with sending me a personal IM or e-mail, but being in IT, I know firsthand that such things don't always stay personal.
In Love But Not Stupid

Dear lover:

Although many people do meet their spouses or significant others at the office, according to a poll conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (www.shrm.org), more than 75 percent of executives feel workplace romances can lead to conflict in the organization, and 58 percent view them as unprofessional. Share with your significant other your concerns about the privacy of personal e-mail or IM. Your IT perspective here may prove useful in protecting your careers and your relationship.



Send your questions to careercoach@nwc.com

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