I have read time and again about the importance of “doing your homework”. But researching a prospective employer is not the only homework to do.

It’s become pretty clear that I also need to be looking at the industry in which I am interested in working. Especially since my primary experience has not been specific to the job I am seeking. One of those catch phrases I keep hearing is “position yourself”, show your unique value-add for the prospective company. I don’t think you can fully understand how you are different from your competitors or what you bring to the table unless you have a complete understanding of industry news and trends.

I’m still learning about all the great tools out there, and I recently discovered Technorati. You can search by topic for blogs. It is tracking 25.4 million blogs! I’ve begun reading around to find a voice I find valuable in this quest for knowledge.

So, I have given myself an assignment. Follow industry news, track blogs, and join industry-specific professional organizations. I’ll share with you what I find…(but only if it’s interesting).