Since moving to Toronto in January, I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to attend a few SLA Toronto Chapter events. The most recent was “Industry Insights with Emily Cox,” a seminar led by Emily Cox, an Information Consultant at BMO Capital Markets. During the seminar, we learned the basics of industry research, and tips and tricks for acquiring industry information.
To kick off the evening, we were asked about our experience with business research. I was nervous that I might have been in over my head but I was relieved to see that many, like me, had little to no experience with industry research. There was a good mix of attendees, including those wanting to learn more about the industry,and those wanting to keep their skills up-to-date; everyone was eager to learn a few tips and techniques, and I’m confident that we all left having learned something new.
Before diving too deeply into industry research, Emily ensured that we all had a basic understanding of the “what, who and why” of industry research. This included what an industry is, who is in need of industry research (ex. investors, economists, bankers, business leaders and innovators), and the type of information needed (ex. mergers, acquisitions, historical information, trends and major players). Later on in the seminar, we covered “where” and “how” to find industry information.
Throughout the evening, Emily provided us with techniques for conducting industry research. Among the tips Emily shared with us were: where to find free sources, which industry codes and keywords to use, and what to do when you hit a search wall. Rather than simply discuss databases with us, Emily reminded us to look outside the box and to try finding information in alternative locations such as credit rating agencies, professional services firms, conference presentations, or even the local chamber of commerce website. As an example, private companies do not disclose their financial information. Researching about a comparable company when there is little public information about the company in question is one solution to this type of issue.
As a practitioner in the field, Emily was able to provide us with plenty of examples of research requests. One example that I found particularly thought-provoking was with regards to electronic showrooms. As Emily explained, the growing trend in online-shopping has enabled consumers to utilize electronic stores, such as Best Buy, to browse and test products. However, the consumer browses the showroom but later buys the product online at a lower price. This is the type of information that Emily could be asked to discover in her day-to-day research tasks. I expected that much of Emily’s research would be purely financial, so it was interesting to learn that research within the financial industry can be quite varied.
To test our new-found knowledge of industry research, we were separated into two groups and challenged with a query concerning online-shopping. Our group brainstormed various keywords and resources that we could use to solve this query, and it was interesting to hear about the individual search techniques and methods of those with more research experience. Emily reminded us again to think and look outside the box.
During the seminar, I was reminded of why I chose to obtain an MLIS degree. I wanted to enter a field in which I could utilize my interests in research, technology and people. Although I am currently a student working in a non-research co-op position, I believe that all paths within the field of librarianship and information science are interconnected. I am confident that I will be able to utilize the skills from this evening in my current co-op position with PwC, my education and my future career.
Attending SLA Toronto events, such as this seminar, has enabled me to build a network of relationships with other students, recent graduates, and experienced professionals within the special library community. I am still another year away from graduating with my MLIS degree but I have found everyone within the library community extremely supportive and willing to share advice, and I am consistently reminded of how diverse and dynamic this field can be. Hearing about the experiences and expertise of professionals, such as Emily Cox, is helping to guide me through my educational journey. I have a better understanding of where this degree could take me, and it has been encouraging to see the multitude of possibilities that this field has to offer.
—Tara Kutlesa
Tara Kutlesa graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree from Vancouver Island University in 2012. In September 2013, Tara moved from Vancouver Island to London, Ontario to pursue her MLIS degree at Western University. She is currently on co-op at PwC in Toronto and will graduate from Western in April, 2015.