Most people have heard the advice the you must research a company at least before a job interview and ideally before submitting a resume. Very few people actually do it. If you have ever been responsible for hiring new staff yourself, you were probably amazed at how many people come into an interview knowing very little about the company. Conducting company research is not difficult, and it quickly puts you above your competition in the eyes of employers.
You don’t have to memorize a million facts and figures about a company.
Once you get to the job interview stage of your job search, it’s important to go in knowing a few things about the company. However, you don’t have to memorize endless facts. Be sure you understand the major products and or services the company offers, know who are their primary customers or clients, read the mission statement to get a sense of the company’s stated goals and priorities and understand, in general, where the company fits within the industry and in relation to its competitors. If you know these few things about a company, you will know far more than the vast majority of the other people who are competing for the job.
Good company research will help you to provide great answers to some very common interview questions
A perspective employee’s knowledge of the company (or lack of knowledge) really comes through in his or her answers to these common interview questions:
Why do you want to work for this company?
If you’ve researched the company, you’ll be able to cite specific projects or client groups that are part of the company’s focus and that are of interest to you. Alternatively, if you have a good understanding of the company’s business philosophies, and they are a good fit with your own values, you’ll be able to highlight that in your job interview.
What can you bring to this organization?
You have plenty of skills to offer. If you understand the nature of the primary projects and needs of the company, you’ll know exactly which of your skills will be most important to highlight in your interview.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
With a basic understanding of the structure or the company, you’ll be able to provide an answer that reflects a realistic career path within that particular organization.
What do you know about this company?
A vague answer to this question can be an interview ender. When you can provide some specific details about the company, you’ll show the employer that you have a real interest in working at that particular organization, and you’ll stand out from all of your competition who, very likely, did not research the company and, therefore, provided a very vague answer to this question.
Good company research is easy to do, and it will put you miles ahead of the competition. It is an absolute must for anyone who is preparing for a job interview.
