Interview Research Tips that Most Job Seekers Forget
Posted May 22, 2014 & filed under Interviewing, Job Search
Don’t want to belly flop in your interview? It’s a given that you do some pre-interview research. However, too many candidates stick to the shallows when doing research on the company. And because of that, they’re missing the chance to make deeper connections.
The first step is to know what a company does, what the position requires, and who will interview you. No one makes a good impression without these details. Otherwise, it looks like you came to the interview just because you had no better place to be on a weekday afternoon.
But pre-interview research is more than preventing yourself from tripping up. At its best, research sharpens your answers in a way that speaks directly to the heart of company obstacles.
When doing research before the interview, ask yourself: can I address the unique conditions facing the employer? If not, try this:
Know industry obstacles:
Employers want to hire problem-solvers. That’s not so hard to believe, but few job seekers hit the bull’s eye with their responses. Giving examples of previous problem-solving successes is only the first step. From there, you have to show that you are already using your brain to steamroll obstacles that the company is facing.
Start simple. Identify pervasive industry problems. To do that, explore every industry blog, forum, and LinkedIn group you can find. Make a list of those big pictures problems for quick reference later.
Then, check out the following company resources to find insight into current objectives:
• The company’s “About Us” page
• Responsibilities of the job opening
• Company press releases
Then, combine your pre-interview research to create an action plan. What big picture issues coincide with the company’s current situation? Which of your previous experience has led you to address these issues? Incorporate your answers into responses to these questions:
• “Why should we hire you?”
• “What would you do in this position”
• “Give an example of how you solved a problem at work.”
Find out about the company’s competition:
This is easier done with some companies than others. High profile enterprises often compete in the public sphere yet most compete just off the radar. Regardless, an online search of industry representatives in the local region should turn up results.
Once your pre-interview research narrows down the company’s main competition, begin to study the company’s mission, history, and press releases. Really, anything you can get your hands on can be interview fodder.
Then, you make a point to bring up your intel when asked the following questions:
• “Why would you be a good fit in the company?”
• “Where do you plan to be in five years?”
Articulate your findings well and you can prove yourself an important asset from the start.
On a final note:
One of the best ways to speed up your pre-interview research is to partner up with one of our recruiters. Not only can they connect you with a new job, but they can provide you with all of the resources needed to ace it. Give our team a call today.
by James Walsh
