Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Do Your Homework. Four Questions You Should Answer in Your Pre-interview Research

Once you get the call for an interview, your work has just begun. It is now time to dig into your research of the company and learn some critical facts. This research will demonstrate that you are interested in the company and that you are prepared. However, more importantly you will gain important information that will directly contribute to your success in the interview.

Basic Company Facts
You must be well-versed in the company’s history as well as the current state of the industry they operate within. Become an expert in their products or services. Gather as much information on their beginnings, their leadership team, and their culture.

SWOT
Keep in mind, companies hire for two reasons: to fill a need or to solve a problem. Evaluating their SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) will help you find out WHY they are looking to fill this position. Think of yourself as more than a job candidate. You are the potential solution to their problem or the one that can fulfill their need. However, in order to demonstrate that you can do these things, you must first discover their existence.

Competition
Don’t just research the company, but also find out as much as you can about their key competitors in the industry and what they are doing. Discover what challenges the company may be facing, but also what their competitors within the industry are facing – and what they are doing about it.

Current Events
Read all the industry information about the company. What are the current trends? What do analysts think about the company’s future? What does the future hold for the company? Are there any recent or upcoming product or service launches or market expansions?

Now that you know what to look for, check back later in the week for the resources of where to find the information.

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