Source: The Ladders
Before heading out for an interview at a company you’ve had your
eye on, you should take time researching your potential employer. Otherwise, how
can you be sure the company of your dreams won't actually turn out to be a
nightmare to work for?
As a bonus, any research you do now into your prospective employer
will pay dividends during the interview. You can always point to some piece of
knowledge you uncovered, being careful to tie it into your skills and why you
are the ideal candidate for the job.
It is common to ask applicants why they want to work for the
company during interviews. Going in armed with a few particulars will set your
feet firmly on the path toward securing the position you desire.
Here are a few things you'll want to find out and how you can go
about gathering the information:
Very often, a company's name does not necessarily make it
clear what they do. If the position you are applying for is in a department not
directly related to what the company produces, it may not occur to you to
investigate.
You don't want to find yourself working for a company when you
don't like or agree with what they do. This is where the company's website can
come in handy. Good places to check for this information are the “About” page
or some variation of it.
The reason why a business does what it does can provide you with
valuable insight into values the company is based on and the passion that fuels
the people who work there.
A company’s mission can further inspire you get involved and be a
part of the team.
If you can adopt their mission and incorporate it into your
statement of why you want to work there, it should put you in solid with the
interviewer.
Current Events
Being aware of what is going on with a company can be beneficial
for obvious reasons. Sift through the company’s social media pages to shed
light on the culture of the company. Searching through news coverage can reveal
recent accomplishments, releases, or issues you may find useful to incorporate
in the interview.
For further insight, you can also research the company’s key
players. These members include but are not limited to department directors,
CEO, and president. Other valuable resources include career websites. By
visiting these pages, you can read what current and past employees had to say
about working there.
Other Questions to
Consider:
Here's a quick list of other questions you may want to keep in
mind while you are doing your research.
·
How big is the company?
·
How many employees do
they have?
·
Is the company
international?
·
Who are their closest
competitors?
·
Have there been any
major changes recently (new CEO, widespread layoffs, corporate takeovers)?
·
Does the company have a
clear vision for the future?
·
What major innovations,
if any, is the company responsible for?
·
How do its products or
services rate? Are they high quality?
·
Who buys their products
or services?
Having the answers to some of these questions fresh in your mind
could come in handy during your interview -- making you memorable enough to
stand out from the sea of applicants.
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