Get the Interview Advantage With Research! Research! Research!
I have noticed with interview coaching clients that most are not familiar with the companies they are interested in working for. Not knowing what you want and where you are headed makes it very difficult for the clients to accurately prepare for a position they know little about. In order to decide on a move that will benefit your long-term career plans and immediate position gratification research is your best course of action.
Going to an interview without doing your research puts you at a clear disadvantage. Research gained can be used as a perfect opportunity to impress your interviewer or as a way to build a rapport at the onset of the interview. It can also leverage your salary negotiations by letting the employer know that you are aware of their corporate pay scale and what the job position is really worth to them.
In larger companies, the person writing the job advertisement or announcement for a position is usually not related to the department or unit in need of additional staff. The description may not be as accurate or effectively written as it should be. By researching the facility you can be prepared when communicating with your potential future employer.
After accepting the new position you will spend a large part of everyday with the people in your area or department. Have you checked into the atmosphere or culture of the company? What is the general employee attitude towards the company? Many statistical resources for larger companies are available on the internet and provide yearly ratings on the best industries, jobs, and companies.
Sites providing a ranking of size and likeability of the companies can be found at www.fortune.com. For listings on first-rate jobs within the U.S. Government try www.bestplacetowork.org. Individual states and many larger cities develop lists that are posted on their sites boasting their best companies including www.columbus.about.com. For smaller sized companies the www.greatplacestowork.com may be helpful.
Another way of discovering more about the companies you are interested in is by looking up articles written on the company of interest or the desired industry. It is a great way to learn more about the company when it is written by someone unrelated to the company and can write objectively on all areas of the company structure, future plans, and successes, and their competitors. It is a great way to discover competitors to use for comparison. Those competitors can also become new companies to look into for possible employment.
A few other areas that require in-depth research in order to get a true understanding and feel for the company you are intending to interview are the corporate culture, hiring practices, and even hours expected to work. It will help to be familiar and in agreement with the work environment or the philosophy of the company. It would be a waste of your time and that of the company for you to go through the process of getting your resume read, being asked to interview, prepare and interview for the position, and finally accept and start the job only to find out six months down the line that you agree or feel comfortable working with the existing management practices or company policies.
Take the time to do your research before you agree to an interview. During the interview look for signs about the general atmosphere or ask questions if still unsure. You deserve to work in an environment that is a great fit, where you will feel comfortable working to fulfill your potential and where you agree with the goals and objectives of the company. Research is key in finding just the right job for you.
Kris Plantrich is the owner of ResumeWonders Writing and Career Coaching Services. She is certified in Resume Writing and Interview Coaching, extensively experienced and nationally published. Reuse of this article is encouraged but must include a link to http://www.resumewonders.com.