You’ve been sent on a company study visit. Whether your company is investigating a new market or you’re carrying out research for a project, make the most of your time and come back with some great insights by following these tips.
1. Plan your visit
Before you even step foot in the door of the company you’re visiting, it’s important to have a plan. This means you can make the most of your time while you’re there and also ensures you get to see and learn everything that’s relevant to your visit.
2. Do your research
Before you go, make sure you do your research on the company. This includes things like their history, their products or services, their target market and any current news or developments. This will give you a good foundation to build on during your visit.
3. Take plenty of notes
During your visit, take plenty of notes. This will help you remember everything you see and hear and will also be useful when you come to write up your report. If possible, take photos or videos too.
4. Ask questions
Don’t be afraid to ask questions during your visit. This is your chance to really get to grips with how the company operates and to find out information that you can’t get from books or the internet.
5. Talk to people
One of the best ways to find out information is to talk to people. This could include employees, customers or suppliers. If you can, arrange to have some informal conversations with people rather than just interviewing them.
6. Be observant
As well as talking to people, it’s important to be observant. This means looking around and taking note of things like the layout of the premises, how employees interact with each other and customers, and what the overall atmosphere is like.
7. Make recommendations
Once you’ve done your research and made your observations, you should be in a good position to make some recommendations. This could be about anything from the way the company is run to the products or services they offer.
8. Write up your report
Once you’re back from your visit, it’s time to write up your report. This should include all the information you’ve gathered, as well as your recommendations. Make sure you proofread your report before you send it off.
How to make the most of your time
As a business professional, your time is valuable. You likely don’t have a lot of free time to spend on visiting companies, so when you do visit, you want to make the most of it. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your company visits.
1. Do your research.
Before visiting a company, make sure you do your research. This means more than just looking up the company website. Try to find out as much as you can about the company culture, their products or services, and their target market. This will help you make the most of your time during the visit.
2. Ask questions.
During the visit, make sure to ask questions. This shows that you’re interested in the company and want to learn more about it. Some good questions to ask include: – What made you decide to start this company? – What are your company’s core values? – How does your company differ from your competitors?
3. Take notes.
Taking notes during the visit will help you remember what you learned later on. Be sure to write down the answers to the questions you asked, as well as any other important information. This will be valuable when you’re preparing your post-visit report.
4. network.
Meeting people and networking is one of the most important parts of a company visit. Be sure to exchange business cards with everyone you meet, and follow up with them after the visit. This is a great way to make valuable connections that could benefit your career.
5. Follow up.
Finally, be sure to follow up after the visit. This includes writing a post-visit report, as well as thank-you notes to the people you met. This shows that you appreciate their time, and it could lead to future opportunities down the road.
Meet the board
It was great to be able to attend the company study visit and meet the board. The insights and knowledge that they were able to share with us were invaluable.We learnt a lot about their journey as a company, the challenges they have faced and how they have overcome them. We also got to see first-hand how the company operates on a day-to-day basis.It was clear to see that they are a very successful and forward-thinking organisation.
The board were very hospitable and made us feel very welcome. We were able to ask them lots of questions and they were happy to answer all of them. They were also very open and honest about the company and its plans for the future.
Overall, it was a great experience and we learnt a lot. We would like to thank the board for their time and hospitality.
By following these tips, you can make the most of your time on a company study visit and come back with some valuable insights.
Meet your peers and contact us to plan your next Study Visit