Appearing for a job interview can be quite nerve-wracking for some. Although you never really know what kind of person might be interviewing you or what unexpected questions they might ask, you can almost always guarantee a recruiter to ask one basic question: how much do you know about their company?
It’s a pretty basic question. But you’d be amazed to find out how many aspiring candidates show up for an interview without researching employers or trying to figure out what might be expected of them. If someone doesn’t properly research a company before a job interview, it can give the hiring manager an impression that they were not really interested in working for them.
If you’re thinking about why it is important to research a company before an interview, the answer is simple: you need to stand out during the recruitment process because getting a good paying job is not an easy task in today’s competitive market.
Researching a job before an interview not only teaches you what employers are looking for but also tells you a little bit about their work culture and style of management.
How to Research a Company for a Job Interview
Here are some of the most important things to research before a job interview.
- What does the company do?
- Who are its key players?
- What does this position entail?
- Who are their biggest competitors and major clients?
- The company’s mission, values and work culture
What Does the Company Do?
If you are going somewhere for an interview, you must at least know what exactly do they do.
For those who don’t know how to research an employer before a job interview, all you need to do is pick up your phone or open your laptop and do a quick Google search. Almost all businesses these days have their own websites and social media pages. So, you shouldn’t have any trouble researching a job before an interview.
The easiest and perhaps the most reliable way to go about this is to visit the company’s website and scour through their ‘About Us’ page. Moreover, if the company has a ‘Media’ or ‘Press’ section, you can look for the latest news or press releases to get a clear idea of what’s going on in that organization.
If there’s something that has happened recently, like a merger or an acquisition, you can mention it during the interview to let the interviewer know that you are well-informed.
Knowing the Key Players
One of the other important things to research about a company while preparing for an interview includes knowing who the key players in that organization are.
This includes people who hold higher positions, such as department directors, team leaders and project managers, among others. Generally, these names are listed on the company’s website. You can also take a look at their social media pages to see how they promote their organization.
Knowing a little about the company’s leadership will not only be a good way to let the hiring manager know that you’ve done your homework for the job interview but it will also give you an insight into how things work there. Not to mention, depending on which position you’ve applied for, you may have to meet some of these people in the later stages of your recruitment process.
Researching your interviewer beforehand is also a good idea.
What that Position Entails
Knowing what position you’ve applied for and what responsibilities it entails is also one of the most crucial things to research before a job interview.
Once you’ve set the date and decided on the time, make sure to go to the job posting and thoroughly read the eligibility requirements. Take a look at the expected responsibilities – even if you’ve held a similar position at some other organization in the past. Since every company has its own sets of policies and values, you need to make sure you know what they are looking for before appearing for an interview.
More often than not, hiring managers ask candidates if they have any questions about their role at the end of the interview. It’s a golden opportunity for you to share your concerns or tell them what makes you the ideal person to fill that position.
Biggest Competitors and Major Clients
The best way to learn about a company before an interview is to learn about its customers. This will also give you a good idea of your possible future there.
Most companies list their major clients on their websites along with their testimonials. As a potential employee, it’s an excellent way for you to understand their target audience. It will also help you find out who uses their products and/or services. Showing an interest in the company’s client base will help set you apart from other candidates in the pool.
Similarly, it’s also a good idea to do some research on the company’s biggest competition in the market. Even if you don’t much about their business, just ask the interviewer a few simple questions about their rivals. It will definitely make a good impression.
Mission, values and work culture
Before you appear for your job interview, make sure to learn a little more about the company’s mission, core values and work culture.
Once again, the company’s official website and social media pages will tell you exactly why they do what they do. These mission statements and objectives usually remain unchanged. So, reading them beforehand will give you a better understanding of the company’s values. Furthermore, it will also help you figure out if the organization’s goals align with your future aspirations.
As far as researching employers and work culture is concerned, simply going through the company’s reviews online will be more than enough. However, if you come across a few negative comments, give the company the benefit of the doubt as some former employees, who don’t part ways on good terms, can also abuse these platforms.
Following the organization’s social media channels is also a good way to learn more about their culture.
Nonetheless, how you research a company before a job interview depends largely on how enthusiastic you are about the position that you have applied for.
Meanwhile, once you clear the interview and get hired, don’t forget to follow these 10 best tips to be more professional at your new job.
To learn more about things to do before a job interview and how to be more professional at work, head over to Zameen Blog – the best lifestyle blog in Pakistan.
