Copy of the job posting? Check. Your resume and cover letter? Check! Information about the company, including the Mission and Value Statements? Check, Check! Congratulations! You’re now ready for your interview.
Or are you?
Have you grabbed your “secret weapon”? By doing so, you’ll give yourself a huge advantage during your interview.
So, what is this secret weapon? It’s simple – prepare for the interview by researching the employer in advance. You’ll not only learn about what the company does, but you’ll also learn what they look for in a candidate and be better prepared to answer questions and position yourself as the best candidate.
7 Things to Do To Prepare for A Job Interview
#1) What are the skills and experience the company values
It’s important to know what the company looks for in a qualified candidate. Knowing this allows you to position yourself as the best candidate for the position. To discover the skills and experience an employer values in a potential employee, you can:
- Closely examine the job posting and read between the lines.
- Look on the employer’s career page.
- Reach out to the company’s current employees to find out what their qualities and skills the employer values most in the workplace.
#2) Key players of the organization
Research who holds critical positions in the company. These are the key players you want to note: managers, department directors, or the CEO/President. This information can be found on the company’s “About Us” page as well as in employee bios. You can dig deeper into these bios by looking at Twitter and LinkedIn to see what these same employees say about the company online.
#3) News and recent events about the employer
Visit a company’s press release and events page(s) to research all your can about its latest news and updates. Take some time to peruse Google and Google News for invaluable information on the company – for example, if the company is expanding in the next 12 months or had a recently recalled product. This knowledge can help you with how to answer potential questions.
#4) The company’s culture, mission, and values
To say you’re a good fit for the company’s culture, you need to know what that culture is and its mission and values. Only then can you confidently say, “Yes, I’ll be a great fit for your company!”. A Millennial Branding study says 43 percent of HR professionals believe cultural fit is the most critical quality job seeks can have during the hiring process.
Finding this information usually is as simple as visiting the company’s website or following their social media networks.
When on a company’s website, pay attention to themes that come up repeatedly, for example, “driven to excellence” or “treat employees like family.” The words companies choose to describe themselves, and their work environment can be very telling.
The company’s social media shows how they want consumers to see them. Like and follow the company to get updates on things you may not be able to find elsewhere. The company doesn’t have social media, or has one that’s sporadically updated? This may mean they are not in control of their public image.
#5) Clients, products, services, and competitors
To give yourself a competitive edge and to be better prepared for your interview, it’s essential to take the time to read through a company’s website, blogs, case studies and white papers to:
- Learn the type of work you will be doing once hired.
- Look into who the company’s clients are, in general.
- Figure out the types of products and services that are being offered.
- Inform yourself of the current industry trends, both positive and negative.
- Identify the company’s biggest competitors and their successes and flaws.
- Discover the company’s unique selling point.
#6) The inside scoop
The website Glassdoor is your friend for doing research on the inside details of a company not available on the employer’s website. You can find information including salary figures, employee functions and duties, company reviews, information on the hiring process, and more.
Glassdoor’s Interview Questions and Reviews section has a wealth of information for job seekers, including what type of questions past interviewees were asked, how tough their interview was, and more.
#7) The person interviewing you
By knowing who will be interviewing you, you’ll have a better chance of connecting with them and having a meaningful conversation. So, how do you find out who that person is?
For starters, look for the person’s name in the email you received regarding the interview. If the name is not apparent, reply to the email politely to request the person’s name conducting the interview. Once you have a name, use LinkedIn or Twitter to help you learn about the interviewer’s background, their position with the company, and maybe even a shared interest or two (Do you know any of the same people? Did you go to the same school? Are you in the same online groups?)
Finally, as an unofficial number eight on this list, find out where you need to go for the interview and how long it will take to get there. It may seem like a no-brainer, but the last thing you want to be is late for the interview. Remember to leave time for unforeseen circumstances.
Need more interview preparation tips? Give me a shout at [email protected], 778-878-6210, or follow Langley Writing Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Learn more about getting your cover letter and resume in front of the person who is hiring for the job you want. We offer other professional writing services too. Stay up to date by bookmarking the blog also!
