Research the Company before Interviews
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Just as you must know yourself before you begin
an interview, so too must you know your prospective employer.
Researching the company helps you tailor your responses to questions and gives
you confidence. It shows the interviewer that you care about the company and
want to make a well-informed decision, and it gives you fodder for posing impressive
questions to the interviewer.
All of the information you gather will help you anticipate the company culture
and gauge the expectations that they will have of you.
Research Company Mission
At a minimum, research the company's purpose and trajectory. Your interviewer
will be convinced that you do not care much about the job, if you have to ask
what the company does.
Look on the company Web site to discover how the company presents itself. Make
sure you can articulate what the company's mission statement is. If the company
has a tag line, memorize that too.
If available, request a copy of the company's annual report. For newsworthy
companies, check media sources like newspapers and
business magazines to find out where the company is going and what its challenges
are.
Discover if they have any specific goals for the near future, like the production
of new products or new partnerships. Talk with someone who works there or has
worked there to find out whether the company fulfills its mission.
Research Company Market
If the company sells a product, who are their target customers? If the company
provides a service, to whom is it rendered? What is the nature of the products
or services? In addition, know the company's major competitors.
Research Company Structure
Besides identifying whether the company is small, medium, large, or enormous,
also research its configuration. Is it a division of a larger company or owned
by a parent company? Does it own other companies? What are its strategic alliances?
Is it a local, national, or international company?
It is also useful to research at what stage of growth the company is. Have they
recently grown or laid off employees? At what rate? Using your internet, media,
and personal sources, uncover as much as you can about the internal workings
of the company.
Research Company Financial Stability
Getting your hands on a share-holders report could be very illuminating as you
determine what the company's earnings or losses are. Are their profits increasing
or are they mired in debt? Is there another company funding them for a period
of time at a loss?
Research Company Employee Relations and Benefits
Finally, you will benefit from knowing how the company treats its employees.
Interviewing current or former employees will give you the information you need
to determine whether you are likely to receive the kind of treatment you desire
or require. How much of the company earnings are shared by employees? What are
the salary ranges for various positions? Gaining this kind of information will
help you assess a compensation packet that you can feasibly negotiate.
Don't forget to uncover the benefits package offered by the company when you
consider the attractiveness of compensation. In addition to compensation, discover
whether employees receive training or mentoring, how many hours a week the employees
tend to work, and how long employees tend to stay at the company. Finally, you
might check to see if any complaints have been filed against the company.
Research Interviewer's Background
Because it's a good idea to connect with your interviewer, it is helpful to
discover as much as you can about him or her as well. Is he or she your prospective
boss or someone screening applicants? If
possible, discover what your interviewer is interested in and where he or she
previously worked or went to college. Gather information that will help you to
establish rapport.
Where to Research a Company
It's acceptable to conduct some of your company research during an interview,
such as asking about benefits and your interviewer's background. But conduct
the rest before you interview.
Some of these resources are mentioned above, but perhaps it's worth repeating
them while including others.
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