Finding a job is hard. Finding the perfect fit is even harder! Being prepared before you next interview is crucial. Do your homework and you stand the best chance of finding a role you love.
So, what should you do before a job interview?
Review the company website.
- Why:
- Understand what the company does and get a read on culture.
- How:
- Review “About Us” pages to understand products/services.
- Make sure you know who their customers/clients are and how they make money.
- Review “Meet the Team,” “Testimonials/Case Studies” and similar pages to look for evidence that:
- Employees enjoy working there.
- They have happy clients/customers.
- Review “About Us” pages to understand products/services.
Check out social channels
- Why:
- See how the employer interacts with clients, customers, and employees on social.
- Learn about the company’s brand, as well as recent news or developments, so you can speak intelligently about them in the interview.
- How:
- Visit the company’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages.
- Review recent posts and comments
- Take note of anything newsworthy to discuss- and prove you’ve done your homework.
Research key players in the organization
- Why:
- Get a sense of the background and experience other employees have.
- How:
- Use LinkedIn to find profiles of the company’s employees and key players.
- Do some research on the hiring manager so you’ll know who you’re talking to in an interview.
Learn the company’s mission, vision, and values
- Why:
- In the interview, you can explain how you align with the company.
- How:
- Search for mission, vision, and values on the company’s website
- Explore social channels to get a sense of company culture and values
Get a general idea of salary
- Why:
- Even though the topic of salary may not come up in a first-round interview, it’s good to be prepared because:
- Salary will come up if the job is offered.
- You want to make sure you’re being paid what you’re worth.
- How:
- Use Glassdoor, Indeed or Payscale to research the typical salary range for the position you’re interviewing for.
- Find company reviews from former employees, which may include salary information.
- Even though the topic of salary may not come up in a first-round interview, it’s good to be prepared because:
Gain insights into competitors.
- Why:
- Make an impression on the hiring manager by showing that you understand:
- The company’s main competition
- The industry the company works in.
- How:
- Google to find out what competitors do differently, better or worse.
- Make notes to use as discussion points or ask follow-up questions.
- Make an impression on the hiring manager by showing that you understand:
Ready to put your job preparation to good use? Connect with a recruiter today to find your next great opportunity. www.essentialpersonnel.com.