RESEARCH THE COMPANY:
Spend a few hours researching and finding as much as possible about the company from as many different places as possible, including the company’s website and social media.
Go to your interview with an understanding of the requirements of the job and how your background makes you a great fit. Get a sense of who the company is and then emulate a similar personality during the interview.
If you want to be remembered after the interview send a written thank you letter by old fashioned “post” as well as the “thank you for your time” email. You can even have it all prepared before your interview and post it immediately afterwards.
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The Inside Scoop.
To ensure you are fully prepared for the job interview, websites such as Glassdoor help job seekers discover the inside details of a company that cannot be found on the employer’s website.
Get a list of the people you are meeting in the interview. Then try to learn more about them and prepare some questions specific to each interviewer.
Information on their website can tell you a lot about the company. For instance, the words they use to describe themselves can tell you if they are striving for excellence in their employees or if a more relaxed approach fit their ethos.
Use LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a great way to find out more information on the company: your connections, promotions, jobs posted etc.
Use Google and Google News
The knowledge you can gain from these sources can be invaluable. You may find out they have had a product recall or that the company is expanding into Europe and at the same time get to know their competitors. Knowing their competitors’ flaws and successes are bound to impress the interviewers.
Use the knowledge from your Research
When interviewers ask questions during the job interview, not only are they getting to know the candidate, but they are also determining if the candidate would suit the position and the company. This is where the information you have found will be essential when you make your replies to their questions. Your knowledge will also help you to answer specific questions as to why you would like to work for the company and the things you admire about the company.
What Type of Skills and Experience is the Company looking for?
Discover the skills & experience the company values by reading the job postings. The employer’s job page will also give you an idea of the type of employees the company is seeking.
You can also reach out to current employees and ask them their opinion on the company. Did you know that 43 percent of HR professionals believe cultural fit is the most important quality job seekers can have during the hiring process?
Find out the Employees who hold Important Positions in the Company
Read the “About Us” page and find out as much as possible about these key employees. You can also check them out on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Recent Events/News About the Company. Check up on the company’s latest recent events/news as it is a good idea to be knowledgeable on this at the interview. Check out the dedicated page on their website for press releases and events. This will be a good source of information.
Find out the About the Company’s Clients.
You need to know the type of work you would be doing if you joined the company. Find out what products or services they deliver as this may help you in the interview.
Find Out the Person who will be Interviewing you
If you can’t find this out from their email address then just reply to the email asking politely the name of the person who will be interviewing you as any information gleamed on this person will give you an advantage in the interview.
Look on LinkedIn or Twitter for their background or any common interests you might both share.
Your “Selling Points”
Be prepared to go into the interview with 3 – 5 key selling points. For example, what makes you the best candidate for the job. You will also need to have an example for each selling point: I have good communication skills i.e. I persuaded my team to…….. Be prepared to tell the interviewer why you really want this job. i.e. What interests you, what rewards you like, what skills you possess that fits the job. Show you are really interested in the job.
Be Prepared with Questions for the Interviewer
If you do not have any questions to ask the interviewer, they might think that you are not really interested in the job. Have one or two intelligent question ready for the interviewer. i.e. “What is the best thing about working for this company” or “How Long Have You and the Rest of the Team Worked Here?”
Practise Sound Answers
The most common question asked during an interview is probably “Tell me about yourself, and why are interested in this job role with our company?” You will need to quickly tell the interviewer who you are and explain the value you would bring to the company. Re read the job description and look for the specific skills the company is looking for. Use the STAR system to help you Situation, Task, Action and Result. Practise your answers out loud, it’s amazing how much confidence you will gain.
