Begin your interview by Researching the Company. Many employers have the upper hand in today’s job market. They have ample applicants and potential job candidates, and all they need is a reason to reject you. Researching the company is essential to standing out, both in your resume writing and in the interview itself.
Research the company before the interview. Showcase your knowledge during the interview.
A little research during the job hunt may have given you an overall picture of the company and what role you feel you could play in their success. Unfortunately, that preliminary effort at researching the company may not be enough to dazzle your interviewer.First, research the essential elements. If it’s a publicly traded company, learn its stock market symbol. If it has multiple offices, learn about the focus of the branch or office that is hiring. Many companies put information about their employee benefits, including retirement plans and vacation time, online so familiarizing yourself with this information can assist you in asking more targeted questions.
It seems elementary, but you need to have a firm understanding of what the company does, and how you may be able to help. When researching, dig deeper than simple press releases filled with marketing buzzwords. Knowing that a company is interested in “synergy” and “dynamics” is useless if you don’t know what products are produced or what services it provides.
Next, research the job itself. Some companies put brief job descriptions online, and there may be listings for the same position on internet job sites that can provide some insight into the skills and experience the potential employer is looking for. Frequent ads for the same position may indicate that it is a particularly challenging job that is difficult to fill, or that has an employee retention problem.
Researching the company’s community impact can allow you to spark a conversation with the employer about your own role in the community. If the company participates in particular charity events, demonstrating your interest will show that you share common goals.
Not surprisingly, researching the company can require more than a search on the internet. Don’t be afraid to leverage your social network. Ask your friends and family if they have ever heard of the company, or have any personal experience. The cliche about a small world is often true and you may be one friend of a friend away from having valuable insight. Unless responding to an ad that explicitly says “no phone calls” you may also be able to have an informative conversation with a representative from the human resources department.
Your local newspaper archives may also provide guidance when researching the company. Old articles may offer insight into the company’s past successful projects, plans for expansion or connections to the community.
During your interview preparation for a local company, or at least one with offices nearby, consult with local colleges. Career placement departments can be great assets in your research, providing you with basic details about the company and potentially even connections to other past placements. One issue, however, is that they generally only work with their own alumni.
In conclusion, researching the company is an essential practice before the interview. Rely on all your resources, including the internet, connections, college job placement centers and newspapers, to get a comprehensive understanding of what the company does, what you might be expected to do, and how you will be able to suit the company’s needs.
Researching the company before a job interview will not only impress the interviewer but improve your chances of a successful job interview.