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.
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.
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.
Ready to put your job preparation to good use? Connect with a recruiter today to find your next great opportunity. www.essentialpersonnel.com.
