Getting an
interview is tough in today’s competitive job market. With more people applying
for each job than ever before, it’s vital that you stand out from the crowd.
Doing extensive research on the company you have been offered an interview for
is essential to help make you the top candidate.
Researching the
company before you go for the interview will help you:
· Talk more knowledgably about why you think you
are a good fit for the company
·
Demonstrate your keen interest and enthusiasm
for the job
·
Show professionalism and diligence
There is a
wealth of information you can access about a company prior to an interview and
using this information can help you highlight your suitability for the role and
the organisation.
Below are our
top 10 tips on where to go when researching for an interview.
1.
Company’s Website
Always start
your research by looking directly at the company’s website. This will give you
a good understanding of what the company does, what industry they sit in, their
core values and an idea of who the key players are in their current team. Make
sure you are familiar with the products/services they are involved in.
If they have a
“careers” section on their website, this is written specifically by the company
so it will give you a firm understanding of exactly what they expect from their
staff.
2.
Google
The next step
is to do a Google search of the organisation. This will show the company
website as well as other key information, such as news articles and recent
changes within the company, which will be important to read through before the
interview. You can also search on Google to find out more about the products
and services the company offers. There may be reviews or articles written which
you want to be clued up on before you get asked questions about it, or which
you can discuss to highlight the extent of your research.
3.
Social media
Following the
company on social media, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google+ will
help you appreciate a company’s culture, what they are interested in and gain a
further understanding of their core values. Some company’s may also have videos
and case studies from their employees and clients which will help give you a
good idea if it is the right company for you and a better understanding of the
workings inside the company.
4.
LinkedIn
It is always
worth looking up the interviewers on LinkedIn to see if you share any common
interests or mutual acquaintances. This will help ensure the interview runs
smoothly as there may be some common ground to discuss and will help you feel
more comfortable. If you don’t know who will be interviewing you, call the
organisation and ask.
You can also
use LinkedIn to see current employees of the organisation. If you know of
someone in the company you could use this opportunity to speak to them in more
depth about the ins and outs of the company and, if they do a similar role or
know of someone you could speak to, you could get a better insight of what the
role would entail and be able to talk in greater detail in the interview.
5.
Specialist Company Information
If you are
working with a Career Management company, they may have access to specialist
resources which will give you more comprehensive information on the company. If
not, there are also websites that can give you similar information, although
they usually charge a fee, e.g. Companies House. This information can include
in-depth financial information and structural changes within the organisation.
6.
News and Recent Events
It is important
to have a strong understanding of the recent news and events of the company. A
recent big news story might be something the interviewer brings up and if you
are unaware about what’s happened this will flag to the employer that you have
not done enough research. If a recent event has occurred within the industry
which would affect you once you are in the role, you also want to make sure you
are fully aware of the implications of this.
A lot of
company websites have a separate ‘recent news’ section which would be a great
start for your research. Also check out the company name under the Google News
Section.
7.
Competitors
Showing you
have a good understanding of a company’s main competitors and their services
demonstrates you have done extensive research and are very interested in the
company and how it fairs in the market. If you mention products that their
competitors offer, make sure you show how the company you are applying for
compares.
8.
Industry Information
As well as
looking at competitors, look up the industry as a whole so you’ve got a strong
understanding of how the industry is performing. This also shows you’ve read
more widely and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
9.
Financial Research
A lot of public
companies will put their financial information on Google and this is a great
source of information for you going into an interview. It can show how well the
company is doing overall, whether they are making cutbacks in the company and
any future plans they may have.
10.
Job Description and Person Specification
Finally, make
sure you have fully read and understood the job description and person
specification for the role before the interview. The interviewer wants to hire
someone who can fulfil all requirements of the role and who will fit in as one
of the team. It’s also important to print it out and bring it with you to the
interview, along with two copies of your CV and your research.
Using the above
tips will also give an insight into the core values of a company, outlining
whether the company is right for you and will be useful in reflecting their
values in your interview. Doing this research will help make sure you are fully
prepared for your job interview and are prepared for any questions about the
company that may arise. If you want to stand ahead of the competition, make
sure you have fully researched the organisation and are confident in discussing
their services and background.
Source: The Guardian
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