How much time have you spent on the Internet learning about the company that is about to interview you?
Before you go on that job interview, it’s important to find out as much as you can about the company. You’ll be well prepared to answer the interview questions and you’ll be able to ask insightful questions of the interviewer(s).
Most job seekers don’t take enough time to really get to know their prospective interviewer or company. That quick 15-minute peek is not nearly enough!
Here’s the hard truth… You need to spend hours tapping into the information on the Internet, and then comb through your network and social media sites.
Here’s how to research a company:
- Visit the company website. Review the company mission statement and history, products and services, management, as well as information about the company culture. This kind of detail is usually available in the About Us section of the site. Be sure you learn about the specific division you are interviewing with, too!
- LinkedIn company profiles are a good way to find, at a glance, more information on a company you’re interested in. You’ll be able see your connections at the company, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics. Take a look at your interviewer’s profile to get insight into his or her job and background.
- Glassdoor.com – a website offering “an inside look at jobs and companies” – has added incredible new features and should be required reading for all candidates preparing for an interview. Check it out!
Dana’s Tricks:
- You may be applying to more than one position within one company, so be sure to keep collected research organized and isolated according to position. If you have to copy the same research into another binder tab or online file for another position, then do so in order to keep valuable research connected to each opportunity.
- Take notes, highlight key points, and summarize the research while you are reading and filing it for future use. Write down at least 3 key points for every area of research: 3 things about their industry, 3 more things about their competition, and so on. Later, these will be the 3 things you either refer to in your application or bring into your interview.
- Don’t try to commit information to memory. It never works (and always fails).
Dana’s Homework:
For each position you have in your job search funnel, complete the required research. Copy and paste research information and links that you gather and put them into your Job Search Organizer. If you don’t have an organizer or job search system, there are tools for you to download here: https://www.danamanciagli.com/tool-downloads/
Level | Purpose | Estimated time to do research | What to look for |
A | Pre-application or résumé submittal | 1 hour |
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B | Pre-interview (phone, or face-to-face) | 2-3 hours |
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Here are some resources to get you started:
