If you have an upcoming job interview, you must be prepping hard. Besides reading theories and practical concepts, it is also imperative to learn a few things about the company before the interview.
Researching the prospective employers before the interview is one of the secret weapons to stand out as a candidate during the interview process. Wear that detective hat and start investigating prospective employers. You would discover minute details about employers that would help you with the preparation for an interview.
Now, if you are wondering as to why you should invest time researching potential employers, here’s why. Firstly, organizational research can be the best way of learning more about the company, its work, culture, and what the company seeks in a prospective candidate. Knowing these things would also help you prepare better to answer interview questions and then position your candidature.
If you are preparing for an interview, here’s what you should know about the employer:
Experience and Skills of Company Values
It is critical to understand what a company is looking for in you, the candidate. This would enable you to place yourself as one of the best-fit candidates for that particular position.
To identify experience and skills the employer seeks or values, try to read between those lines of the job posting. You may also find out more information from the career page of the employer to get a brief idea of the candidate they desire. Finally, you can contact current employees working there and even take feedback about employer values and culture in the office.
Know the Key Players
Within the organization, there would some key players. They are also employees but holding important positions. These people could be department directors, managers, and typically the president/CEO of an organization. Employment agencies in California can help you learn more about the top position holders of a company.
You can also find out the key players of a company by reading the “About” page of the employer and the bios of employees. It is always advised to check out social media to understand what individuals are saying on LinkedIn and Twitter. It would help you to learn more about employees, their mindsets, and their view of the company.
Latest Company Events and News of the Employer
When you sit for an interview, it is prudent to have some idea about the latest news of the company and some updates.
Most organizations usually have one page on the website, which is dedicated to events, news, and press releases. This is one of the best sources to gather information about the latest news of the company along with other updates.
Company Culture, Mission, and Vision
Job seeks must be able to present themselves as good fits for the culture of the company during the interview. According to Millennial Branding research, 43% of all HR professionals firmly believe that cultural fit has been an important criterion for employers, and job seekers should be able to show that during their interviews. (http://millennialbranding.com/2014/multi-generational-job-search-study-2014/)
As you are researching employers, visit their website to know more about the company’s mission, vision, and values. You would be able to learn a lot about the company’s culture by simply following that organization on various official social networks.
Products, Services, and Clients
As a prospective employee, you should know all about the kind of work you have to do once you are hired. When you have a brief idea of the products and/or services the company offers, and know more about the clientele, you would be better equipped for your interview.
To know about the organization’s offerings, visit the company’s official website. You can even read some of the blogs and case studies on the company’s website, and some white papers for better knowledge of the company’s accomplishments.
Insider Information
To make sure you are fully prepared and ready to face the interview, employment agencies in California can help job seekers find out some inside details about the company from the official website.
When you use an employment agencies in California , you can find more information about the company, including employee duties and functions, salary figures, company reviews, and the hiring process.
Know the Interviewer
Finally, you have to find out about your interviewer. This would give you some leverage during the hiring interview as you would have a better possibility to connect with the official and spark a fruitful conversation.
Although it could be a bit tricky to know who is going to take your interview, you may be able to know the name of the person with some persuasion. Try to locate the name of the person from the email received about the interview. However, if there is no information, send a polite reply to the email requesting the person’s name.
Once you have the name of the interviewers, research on Twitter and LinkedIn to know more about the person. This would assist you to learn about their background, position in the company, and common interests that you may share.
Takeaway
Of course, there are many other things you should research before sitting for the interview but do not ignore the industry, your role, and anything that seems to be relevant.
If you turn up completely unprepared, you would be wasting the interview’s time and yours. It also reflects a lack of etiquette.
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