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Weekly Newsletter Vol. 119 - December 10, 2025

Generating your Lead Story…

How to Job Search Smarter at Big Companies (Using Public Info They Hand You for Free)

Everyone wants to work for the big brands — the ones with name recognition, resources, and clear growth paths. But here’s the truth most job seekers never realize:

Big companies tell you exactly what they care about, exactly where they’re going, and exactly what skills they need — publicly.

And 99% of people never use any of it.

If you want to stand out in a competitive hiring process, especially at large or publicly traded companies, you need to go beyond reading the job description. You need to understand the business, not just the role.

Here’s how you do that — using information the company literally publishes for free.

1. Use the Annual Report (10-K) to Understand the Company’s Priorities

Every public company releases an annual report. Most candidates never look at it. Hiring managers do.

Inside that report are gold mines of insights:

✔ Growth priorities

✔ Risks & challenges

✔ New markets and expansions

✔ Cost-cutting areas

✔ Technology investments

✔ Strategic initiatives

If you’re interviewing, imagine being the candidate who says:

“I saw in your annual report that you’re prioritizing X this year, and here’s how my experience directly supports that shift.”

You go from applicant #387 to someone who understands the business.

2. Use Sustainability Reports to Understand Culture & Long-Term Vision

Sustainability and ESG reports tell you:

✔ What the company cares about publicly

✔ Their commitments to people, planet, and ethics

✔ How they talk about culture and leadership

✔ Where they’re putting resources and investment

If a company is committed to emissions reduction, DEI initiatives, or supply chain transparency than you now know how to frame your stories.

Example: If you're interviewing for operations or supply chain, and the company emphasizes “responsible sourcing” in their ESG report, you can say:

“I noticed your ESG priorities include strengthening supplier oversight. In my last role, I led…"

That level of alignment is rare and it always stands out.

3. Read the Latest Earnings Call Transcripts

This is where the CEO and CFO tell investors:

✔ What worked

✔ What didn’t

✔ What’s changing

✔ Where the company is investing

✔ Which products or divisions are priorities

If you want to know which departments are growing (and hiring), it’s all in the earnings call.

Example: If the CFO says, “We’re shifting investment into digital transformation,” that’s your clue that IT, product, and operations roles may be expanding.

Now you’re applying to the right teams at the right time.

4. Use Press Releases to Time Your Outreach

Big companies announce:

✔ New executive hires

✔ New products or service lines

✔ Major partnerships

✔ Funding or acquisitions

✔ Office expansions

Each one of these signals hiring activity.

For example:

• New VP? They're building a team.

• New product? They need sales, marketing, and CS.

• New factory? They need supply chain and operations.

You can reach out before the job ever gets posted.

5. Mirror Their Language in Your Resume & Outreach

Public companies use consistent language across:

• Reports • Press releases • Careers pages • Leadership interviews

Use that same language.

If they talk about “operational excellence,” “customer obsession,” “continuous improvement,” or “efficiency initiatives,” your resume should echo those themes.

It shows you understand their world.

6. Tailor Your Questions to What You’ve Learned

Most candidates ask questions anyone can Google.

Your goal is to ask questions that only someone who researched the company could ask.

Examples:

“I saw in your annual report that one of your strategic goals this year is X—how does this role support that?” “Leadership mentioned on the earnings call that margins are tightening—how does the team prioritize efficiency?” “Your ESG report highlights a focus on talent development—how does this team support internal growth?”

These questions tell the hiring manager: You’re prepared. You think about the business. You’re operating at a higher level.

7. Use This Info to Build Your Networking Strategy

When you connect with employees on LinkedIn, reference something real:

“I saw your latest sustainability report highlighted major investments in supply chain modernization. I’d love to understand how that impacts your team.”

This is how you turn a cold message into a warm conversation.

The Bottom Line

Most job seekers spend their time rewriting resumes and refreshing job boards.

Top candidates spend their time learning the business.

Big companies give you every insight you need — you just have to use it.

When you understand where the company is going, what they’re worried about, and what they’re investing in…

You speak their language. You anticipate their needs. You position yourself as the obvious choice.

That’s how you stand out in a crowd of hundreds.

You can’t make this stuff up

_{(*Disclaimer: these are real experiences provided by RME's community of job seekers and hiring managers)}

Screened for you

_{*We do not receive any compensation for these promoted products/services, nor for any offers or discounts listed. Rather, we provide a platform for recruiters, hiring managers, and companies to present opportunities to job seekers.}

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Find your next job with: The Wohl Group

As strategic recruiting specialists, The Wohl Group offers a full range of recruiting and consulting services for businesses and hiring managers. We strive on a daily basis to provide each client and candidate we speak with the best resources for the hiring process.

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