Company Research Interviewing Success Strategies

Writen by Carla Vaughan

Employers can tell which job candidates have done company research and which ones have not. Candidates who can offer information about the organization's mission statement, growth expectations and/or major competitors are the ones who will be most likely to find themselves receiving job offers.

Find out as much as you can about the company. At the very least, check out their web presence. The more you know about the company, the better prepared you will be and the more likely you will be to succeed during the interview. You are certain to be more confident and prospective employers will take notice.

Here are two good reasons to perform company research: One reason to find out more about the prospective employer is to determine if you want to work there. Not all positions are created equal. Another reason is to be able to respond appropriately in the interviewer when you are questioned.

Here are some things you should know. Consider each of the following questions carefully. If you are asked these questions in an interview, how well will you be able to respond?

These questions are about the company itself:

• What do you know about our organization?
• How well do you think our company is positioned for the future?
• Why do you want to work here?
• If we don't accept you for this position, is there another department you like?
• Do you think you will fit in well with our corporate environment?
• What do you know about our products/services?
• How will you contribute to our corporate goals?

There are many places to do research to find out the answers to these and other important questions. One of the easiest, of course, is the internet. Many companies have their own websites, so you can find out a great deal of information there. Another way to find out about a particular organization is to review news articles and PR websites for recent activity regarding the organization. Anything of major concern will be noted in the news/media.

Another place that is often overlooked, but most likely has more information than any other source, is your local library. When you visit just ask the librarian to point you in the right direction. It may take a little more legwork, but the information is usually more abundant and better organized than any web search.

Some companies will be easier to research than others. Public companies are easier to find information about then private companies. Privately held firms are under no legal obligation to make their financial statements public. Any organization that has publicly traded stock must disclose certain pieces of financial information per the Securities and Exchange Commission, so you will find information readily available on them.

Research is important if you want to be prepared for the job search process. Find out what you need to know in order to make informed decisions. If you want to get the job offer, you have to make sure you know what the company is all about.

Company research can lead to interview success!

Carla Vaughan

Carla is the owner of Professional-Resume-Example.com, a site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored several books.

For more information about interviewing, follow this link to: Interviewing