Employers these days are working hard to find candidates who are the right fit for their companies, but what does that really mean?

The definition of a good fit is often determined by those conducting the interview.

It may be defined as a candidate possessing the right combination of sought after personality traits and skills.

It may mean that the candidate can demonstrate emotional intelligence skills and have the ability to adapt to the situation at hand.

However, the right fit should go both ways.

Have you ever asked yourself if the companies that you are applying to a good fit for you?

You should know how to research the company you are applying to.

You need to understand how to evaluate if the company is going to be a good match for your skills, education and career goals.

Start by visiting their LinkedIn page to find out basic information about the company.

Here you can learn about an organization’s mission, values and culture. Company culture speaks to the personality of a company and defines what a company, from an employee’s perspective, is like to work for.

Understanding a company’s culture is key to determining whether it is the sort of place where you would like to work.

LinkedIn can also be used to find current employees so you can see what qualifications and skills they have.

Google can be used to check company reviews and how they interact with customers.

Glassdoor.ca is another site where current and former employees can anonymously provide information about a company’s salary ranges, interview process and their general impressions working for the company.

Research can be a time-consuming task, but in the long run, it is definitely worth the effort.

The more information you find out about the company the more likely you are to choose a company that is a good fit for you, and where you can build a future. All the research that goes determining if a company is a good fit for you, can also better prepare you for an interview.

Tamara is the Career Services Specialist for University Canada West. University Canada West is located in the heart of Vancouver, British Columbia. The university offers both online and on-campus Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication and MBA programs. The business-oriented university provides students with the experience to succeed in their careers and scholarships to recognize students’ academic excellence.