Company Research
"What do you know about our company?"
"Why do you want to work for us?" |
Why to Conduct Company Research before Interviews
Right off the bat, interviewers (or job applications)
frequently ask basic interview questions like
those listed above, to measure your interest and whether or not you've done your
homework before interviews. If you don't have good answers, then you're likely
in trouble before your interview has really begun.
For example, if an interviewer asks you why you want to work for the company
in question, "Because it's a great company" is not the best of answers;
it's a predictable, mundane answer.
Besides, how would you know that for sure, having never worked there? Worse,
what if your interviewer—who does work there—doesn't think
it's all that great?
When an interviewer asks you such a question, he or she wants to know specifically
why you'd like to work for the company in question, verses just any ol' company
that has a job opening for which you're qualified.
Subsequently, it's a good idea to conduct company research before you interview,
so you can step up to the challenge and answer the questions with some authority.
At minimum, research a company's products and services, so you can say what they
are and why they interest you, and why your qualifications are a good match for
the nature of the company's business.
Because employment is a two-way street, you'd be wise to research the company
further, to ensure that it's an employer for which you'd really like to work;
then you'll automatically be prepared to specifically answer just about any company-related
interview question that an interviewer can throw at you.
Find out everything you can about the company, including:
- Benefits
- History
- Culture
- Financial status
- Plans
- Advancement opportunities
Of course, you may ask about some of those topics and then
some during an interview, when it's your turn to ask questions. But it's
a better idea to formulate specific questions
to ask, while you're conducting company research to specifically answer related
interview questions.
Asking and answering with specifics will demonstrate to your interviewer that
you are at least interested enough in working for the company, that you first
did your homework.
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