These days, getting though the applicant tracking software, and
then past the interview phone screening is tough. But once you've got your foot
in the door for that first face-to-face interview, it's critical to have
significant knowledge about a company so you can make a good impression with
the potential employer. Your company research shouldn't come from a quick Google
search or fast glance at the latest news. Instead, it's important to gather
important information and understand how to use what you’ve learned to your
benefit in interviews and in your decision-making.
Here’s what you need to learn.
The company. Don’t be stumped when asked, how the
company makes money. Make sure you’re clear on what the company does— its
products and services and revenue sources. Be able to speak to how working in
that type of company fits into your own career goals.
Why the company does what it does—its mission. Look
for the company's mission statement—something that outlines its core values
paying attention to keywords and how each is used. Words such as integrity,
innovation, independence can mean different things depending upon the company.
Consider how the position you are interviewing for relates to the company
mission and develop your interview stories to support the company’s goals. For
example, develop a story to demonstrate your creative problem-solving skills
(innovation) or how you completed a project without a lot of information
(independence) or a story about when you were challenged with an ethical
dilemma (integrity.)
The company culture—how you fit. Culture is
important. Interviewers are looking to see if you are a good fit with their
culture and you should do the same. Although culture can seem intangible, you
can find good information from people who have interviewed or worked there. Glassdoor is an
excellent resource so are the company’s blogs and other social media.(Read more
on assessing an organization’s culture.) Develop
culture-oriented questions and know what to look for when you are in the
company’s office.
Make note of recent company achievements. Most
company websites include a press release/recent news section, and newspapers
and industry publications report on news often in feature articles. Use this
information to prepare some questions about the news if it makes sense. For
example, I read that you recently purchased xyz company. Will this department
work on the transition? Your well-informed conversation may be a critical
factor in your interview's success. Resources: WSJ, NY Times, Financial Times,
Hoovers.
The industry trends. Learn what the publications and
blogs are saying about the company and the industry as a whole. Be prepared to
discuss the industry trends. Resources: trade/industry publications and the industry’s
professional organization website and publications.
Insight on your interviewers. Make certain you
receive a list of the people you will be meeting including each person’s title.
(It’s appropriate to ask for the day’s agenda.) If the company site has a
leadership team section or search tool, use it to search for the names of the
people you'll be meeting. Look to LinkedIn to get some more background
information about them. You might find some common ground (for instance, a
shared alma mater) you can bring up in conversation, or a recent professional
achievement for which you can pay a genuine compliment. There's nothing
confidential or stalking-like about gathering this information.
Find people you know to get inside information. You
have many more professional relationships than you think. This is the time to
call on them. Your network can give insight into business initiatives,
corporate culture and even personality dynamics. Start on LinkedIn to see if
you have any first or second connections. Talk with alumni relations. Ask
friends and relations if they know anyone who might have information to share
about your prospective employer.
Typical interview questions asked by the company.
Most companies use a behavioral style of interviewing in which the interviewer
provides a work scenario and expects your response to include what was the
problem to be solved (the scenario), what action your took and what were the
results. When you’ve researched the company, it’s easy to figure out what the
company wants to learn from you. People who have interviewed at the company
often post the interview process and questions on Glassdoor. It's
good to have idea of what you will be asked so you can prepare your responses.
I know it sounds like a lot of work and it can be. However,
if you’ve done a good job of targeting your job search you’ll only need to do
the above for a handful of companies.
Jane Horowitz is a
career-launch coach and founder More Than A Resumé. Jane has
championed college students in their job searches from colleges and
universities across the country, and with majors from engineering to fine arts,
from computer design to banking. Jane
has made a measurable and lasting difference in college students’ lives. You
can reach Jane at jane.morethanaresume@gmail.com.
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