To stand out as a candidate during the entire interview process, researching is the key! Put your investigative skills to work on your potential employers and you’ll dig up valuable details about the company you’re eyeing to work for. This will make you more prepared and confident in addressing questions thrown at you by the interviewer.
You may be thinking to yourself, “Is there really a reason why I should research employers in the first place?” Well, company knowledge is a great way to get to know what you are getting yourself into and what a company looks for in potential hires. You’ll also know how to package yourself as the perfect fit that the company needs!
Handy Things to Know Before Your Interview
Here are a few things you should strive to learn about your potential bosses:
1. What are the company values and mantras?
Identify what the company looks for in a competent candidate in your desired position. This will allow you to explain how you’ll be the best person for the job.
Start reading in between the lines of their job postings. Review how soft skills play a role in the chosen profession. At the same time, it may be good to engage with current employees who work there and ask them about the key values and learnings that your potential employer puts emphasis on.
The key is to give the interviewer the insight that you’ll fit perfectly within their company culture. Similarly, you should be able to show that you think, act, and feel like the employees of the company. According to a study, more than 40 percent of HR leaders believe that culture fit is the most important quality job seekers can have during the hiring process. Learn about your employer’s mission and vision. Take into consideration how this aligns with your personal goals and plans.
2. What is happening to your employer now?
Going into the job interview, it’s vital that you have an insight into the current situation of the company. It’s best to learn the latest news and updates.
Look for press releases, key events, or news clippings. The key is to be aware of the company’s current dilemmas and where they stand from a public relations standpoint. Do they have a new product? Are they suffering setbacks? Is the industry changing? These basic questions on the company’s health may arise and it’s best to know how to respond to these during your interview.
3. Who are the important people within the company?
Knowing the persons you will eventually work for is a must. These individuals within the company are the employees who have vital positions within the firm. Know the names and profiles of the managers, directors, division heads, and especially the CEO/president of the company.
4. Who are their clients? What are their products/services?
If you want to be hired, you need to have a clear idea of the nature of your work before you get in. You should have a broad knowledge of your employer’s top clients and customers. Understand their product lines or the services they offer. Knowing these things can allow you to explain specific examples of where you can deliver the most impact on the business.
Review the company’s list of accomplishments and history. This will give you a clear view of your company’s core business. It also makes sense to get a gist of the entire industry. If you are entering the advertising industry, for example, it pays to know about current trends in PR and digital marketing. Learn about your employer’s biggest rivals. If you can, learn about their flaws and successes. This competitive streak will surely impress and give your interviewer a perspective that you really know what you are doing.
5. What is the company like?
Learn about the inside scoop within the company. Prepare yourself by checking out the details that you can’t find elsewhere. Get in touch with previous employees to learn about the working environment. Try looking for salary figures, company reviews, and hiring process details via Glassdoor. The more you know, the better prepared you are when it comes to questions about benefits and salary negotiations.
6. Who is the person interviewing you?
Lastly, learn who the interviewer will be. It gives you a personal advantage as it enables you to build rapport and connect with your interviewer. Probe this by looking at the email you received regarding the interview. It’s best to know first-hand who the person is and what he/she is like so you know the best way to put yourself forward. Look for their background or any common interest that you share.
Great Places to Research
Now that you know about the things you should be familiar with, where can you find that information? Here are the different sources that can aid your research:
Visit the Company Website
Do a quick Google search on the company name. From there, you can view the website if there is one. Learn about the organization’s mission statement and history on the about page. They will have a product page for products and services. Aside from that, you can research key personnel names and backgrounds that are usually disclosed on the people part of the website. Lastly, hints and cues about the company culture can be taken from the site.
Use LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a great way to stalk your company and learn about its profile. It gives you a glance at the job and the company you are interested in. You can see common connections, new hires you may know about, those who were promoted, other openings, and key statistics to help gauge the company. As I mentioned, if you know someone in the company, reach out to them. They may even give you recommendations and tips on how to succeed in the interview.
Browse Social Media
Another way to learn more about the company is to check the social accounts like their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. It can give you some hints as to how they engage with customers and what they want to portray themselves in the public eye. They also indicate company values and other information you may not have seen on the formal website.
Look up the Company on Glassdoor
Glassdoor is a haven of valuable information. You can easily find company reviews by former and current employees, ratings, company information, salaries, CEO approval ratings, competitors, and other details.
What’s more, you can get an insight into what questions other candidates were asked and receive some useful advice for your interview day. Keep an eye on repeated positive and negative comments as these are more likely to be true.
Use The Research to Your Advantage
There you have it! You are now prepared for the big interview. The company research you did will help your responses to questions to be more purposeful and grounded. You can share your thoughts on what makes the company unique, and express your enthusiasm to work there by sharing your knowledge. Most importantly, you will know what you are talking about and that is the most effective tool in attracting the attention of the recruiters.
Have other tips for researching a company? Tell us in the comment section below.
