Opportunity Knocks Podcast- How to Research a Company for an Interview 4:19 minutes / 3.95 MB / MP3
Do you know what information to research before an interview? Learn valuable skills on how to research a company before an interview to make sure you are prepared for anything an employer may ask you! Click the link above to listen!
Show Notes:
They say that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. This interview is YOUR opportunity!
You are expected to fully research every company prior to an interview. It sounds basic but in a survey conducted by Accountemps, 44% of executives said that the most common interview pitfall for today’s candidates is insufficient company research. This weakness is hard to understand, especially given all of the information available at our fingertips.
There are 3 areas you should research before an interview.
1- The Company
Start at the company’s website. Many corporate sites have an “employment” or “careers” section. In addition to posting openings and benefits information, you will find extensive information on corporate culture and the structure of the organization including corporatei bios and maybe even your interviewer’s bio. Flatter your interviewer by knowing a bit about his or her role and responsibilities. Having a general overview about the company will give you confidence during the interview, especially if you pay attention to the firm’s mission adn vision statements. These statements offer you great insight into the ecompany’s values and will you give you something to refer to during your interview.
Also, utilize the reseources of the CSPD blackboard organization, which provides students access to HOovers.com and other research resources. These sties can be insturmental in your research, helping you to obtain information about company financials, company repurtation, company size, history, etc.
You should be able to answer questions such as:
Why do you want to work for us?
What are our productors or services including any new products?
Who are the key people in the organization: owners, executives, board members?
What is our company history and when did we start?
Know if the company is public or private!
2- The Role
It is also importatnt to understand the job description of the position for which you are interviewing. Hwen you obtain an interview you should always ask to have a full job description emailed to you. Know your role in the company and how your specific skills match the job requirements. You should be able to back this up with examples of past projects, job responsibilities, and personality traitst ath will show the employer you have done your homework! This includes knowing yourself. Understand your strenghts, weaknesses, and why you want to work for the company you are interviewing with.
3- The Industry
Knowledge of the industry you may be entering is imperative. Google the company. Read any press releases and learn about the major competitors of your prospective company. Understnad the competitive advantages the company offers in the marketplace. Side note: Use these competitors to expand your job search and see if they have any similar positions that may be of interest to you.
You should be able to answer questions pertaining to:
The average salary of someone in your field. This will help you negotiate salary.
Company’s rank in the industry
Industry trends
Industry advancements
In conclusion, company research should not wait until the night before an interview. Leave yourself enough time to research and review and research and review some more. You want to be prepared to answer any question an interviewer could throw your way.
For additional information, you may want to talk to current or former employees fo the company or approach the company and request information such as product catalogs, brochures, reports, or any other literature that explains the purpose, products or services of the organization. Information can also be found in the CSPD office.
So remember: Know the company, know the roles and responsibilites of the position, and know the industry!
Jena joined the CSPD as the Assistant Director of Recruitment and Professional Development with over 4 years career services experience including a background in corporate recruiting. She is excited to work collaboratively with the Fox School students regarding career search strategies and hopes students gain some additional insight into the job search through “Opportunity Knocks”.
Kel is an undergrad majoring in Management Information Systems, graduating in 2010. He is very involved and hopes to share some of his experiences with other students. His goal is to motivate others to do their best. He believes that with a little inspiration you can get where you want to be. Through this blog, he wants to show you that opportunities are out there.
August 29th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
This is an excellent guide. When interviewing potential canidates if they know the above they generally make the first cut because so many don’t. You would be surprised how many canidates go to an interview knowing nothing about the company or the job.