Preparing for an interview is more than just choosing the right outfit and practicing common interview questions- it is also about doing your research on the company and the role. When you do your research, not only will this help you know what the organization is looking for and how you fit in, but it will also help you stand out from the others. Employers prefer those who know what the company is about- and they are bound to be impressed that you did your homework and went that extra mile.
Before you sit down for that interview, here are a few important things that you should know about a company or an organization:
What does the company do?
Although this might sound obvious, it is important to know what the company actually does. In order to gauge your industry knowledge and interest level, interviewers generally ask what you know about the company. If you fail to answer this question well, it gives the impression that you don’t particularly care about the company and you just want a job.
What does your job entail?
Although the interview gives you a chance to know more about the role in detail, you should try and understand all that you can about your role before the interview. This allows you to find out where exactly you can contribute and can also help you prepare to talk about why you would be an ideal fit for the role.
What are the values of the company?
You must also know why the company does what it does. Not only will this help you impress the hiring manager and help you know more about the company, but it will also help you see how you can align the company values to match your own, and further assess whether or not this company and job is right for you.
Who are the clients?
This forms a big part of understanding the company and your potential in it. Find out who uses the company’s products and services and its target audience. This will further set you apart as an enthusiastic and knowledgeable candidate.
What’s new?
Generally, the hiring managers expect you to have a basic understanding of what the company does. But if you demonstrate that you are on top of trends and news, you’ll make a better impression. Find out what the company has been up to recently to get a better insight of where the company is going and where it stands in the industry.
Who is your interviewer?
This can potentially help you gauge the kind of questions you can expect during the interview. Find out the name and title of the person who is going to conduct the interview. You can also see if you have any common connections to get an idea of the interviewer’s personality. If not, then you can always resort to old-fashioned internet research. Identifying shared interests can also help you build a rapport with the interviewer.
