The 7 Things You MUST KNOW about a Company Before You Interview…..And Where to Get the Answers

Researching is one of the most important tasks that you should complete prior to a Job Interview!

The amount of knowledge that you have about your prospective employer will definitely give you a COMPETITIVE EDGE!

YOU MUST KNOW:

1. What does the company do, and what do you know about their mission?
2. Who are their customers?
3. What are their financials?
4. What is their history?
5. Do they have a high turnover rate?
6. What does the future appear to hold for the company & their industry?
7. What is their reputation in their industry?

Now, where are you going to get the answers?

• Start at the source- call the company directly and see if they have any literature on their company that they could send you, or you could pick up. It is perfectly fine to tell them why you want it- you are just showing interest in the company which is an admirable trait!

Also ask what their web address is- today the majority of companies have websites and they offer answers to many of these questions. Check each link on the site-especially any Job Board area, or information on benefits, location, etc.

Many sites also include financial information such as Annual Reports, stock quotes if applicable & earnings estimates.

You may also find Press Releases that they have submitted on recent news; and also company chat rooms.

• Look for Industry Journals and Publications, either online or at book stores. Your local library can also help- go to the Business or Job Sections, and check with the Librarian on other publications about your prospective industry.

• Review the above publications to find out other Professional Journals or Industry organizations that may be in your area. If there are groups that meet in your area, find out & GO! Not only will you meet others in your prospective industry, but you may hear and find out things about the company from others attending; and you often times will hear of job openings before the company posts the opening to the public.

• National Newspapers can provide you with information. You can find articles on larger companies as well as industry news.

• Your local newspapers or newspapers from the area you wish to work will usually have articles on local companies, and most also publish a Business section that mentions awards or recognition received by local business people. Maybe the person you are interviewing with was just promoted- this would be a great way to develop rapport when you congratulate them on their recent news release!

• Your local Business Journal or Publication can also be a great source of information.

• ASK EVERYONE THAT YOU CAN! Ask everyone that you can trust what they know about the company. The world is really a very small place; often times you may know someone who knows someone who works at the company you will be interviewing with. Ask others in your particular industry-if you can attend an industry related meeting or event- ask others there. It may not be smart to say that you are interviewing with a company just yet, but you could express interest in that particular company and ask what others know or think about them.

• If you are working with a Recruiter, ask them to find out many of the answers as well. They may have a history with the company that they can tell you, which can provide you with much information.

Prepare and also keep an open mind. This is an important meeting for you and preparation will definitely give you the confidence to succeed!

Wendy Ahlheim
www.recruiterstips.com

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