The most important part of the job search is the interview. This is where you come face-to-face with the hiring manager. Doing your homework on company research will better prepare you for the interview.
You’ve updated your resume, sent it out, possibly had a phone screening, and (YES!) you’ve landed an interview. Now you wait, right?
Wrong. Being well-prepared for the interview is vital before you get into the hot seat. It’s time to start doing your homework.
What kind of research should you do?
It’s best to start with the basics. These four steps will set you off on the right foot:
- First, check their ‘About Us’ or ‘Overview’ page. This page will take you through the history of the company, when they started, who founded the company, why they are in existence and what they are doing presently. The Mission Statement explains the company’s goals and values. This tells a story of what they’ve done and where they are headed.
- Next, head over to their ‘Portfolio’. Various companies may label this differently. Their portfolio shows the types of projects they have worked on, and what type of work they typically do. So, you will find who their main customers are or which industry they serve the most.
- Look at the company’s corporate social responsibility section. You will learn about how they participate in voluntary activities to better the society.
- Search Google for recent news articles that involve the company. This will give you an external perspective. Branch out to company/product reviews to get a feel for the company’s reputation.
A hiring manager gauges your knowledge about their company. For instance, what types of projects have they worked on? Who are their customers? How do they give back to their community? Be sure to explore anything outside of these points too, it is important to go through areas of the website that are relevant and learn as much as you can. Don’t limit yourself to only their website.
A skim read is good enough
NO! Envision where you can see yourself fit in. Do not be afraid to broach the topic during the interview. Your interviewers will be impressed that you took the time and effort to do your homework.
Don’t stress
Employers are not looking to see if you can memorize their website. They want to know if you’re prepared. Prepared to answer those types of questions, and to see how much research you can do with limited resources. Not all websites will give you all the information you need and that’s okay. Look externally. Google it!
Spend quality time doing your homework
It will make you seem well informed. It will show the employer the amount of interest you have and how dedicated you are to want to be working for them. These are all positive qualities to have when interviewing.
Show what you know
Most candidates do not do this step and consequentially do not stand out. But, make sure that you do not bring it up where it is not appropriate. The best time to show your research might be at the end, during the chance to ask questions.
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