Landing a job interview feels great, but how much do you really know about your potential employer? Job listings often illicit more questions than provide answers. Knowing where to find inside information can mean the difference between getting a job from a great company and heading down the wrong path.
Finding a good job these days is tougher than ever. There are so many factors to take into consideration but, thankfully, the Internet provides you with means to figure it all out if you're willing to invest the time.
Whether you are at the beginning of your job search or preparing for an interview, being armed with as much knowledge as possible about the prospective company is in your best interest. Not only will it help you formulate more insightful questions, it will boost your confidence as well.
We highlights three of the most common scenarios where a little knowledge of the company could really pay off.
Expectations -- The interviewers expect that you'll know what the company does. If you don't, how can you say that you'd be interested in working there? I've interviewed countless candidates who asserted their desire to work for the company I represented. My very next question would be something like, "That's great, tell me what you know about our company?" The interview usually ended very quickly afterward if they didn't have a clue.
Information -- Going into an interview armed with information can be a decided advantage, even if the information is available for public consumption. When you are able to talk about company activities like capital projects, market expansions and new product introductions, it helps you come across as a serious, intelligent and diligent candidate. More importantly, it adds a dimension that can often be lacking in an interview, which is to get the interviewer to see you as an advocate for the company instead of simply an advocate for yourself to get a job with that company.
Growth Potential -- Researching the company, industry and market can give you some insight into the financial strength of the organization. Any publicly traded company must provide its financial results for investors to review. Check out whether the company on the upswing or appears to have dark days ahead.
What Should You Be Looking For
The information offered by many of sites is designed to provide insight into not only what a company does, but more importantly how past and present employees feel about the organization. Here are some questions that will aid you in your quest:
- What type of culture does the company foster?
- How many employees does it have?
- What is the company history?
- What is its mission statement?
- Does the core vision/mission align with your personal views?
- What are their services and products?
- What is their online reputation?
- What does the company do?
- Who are its clients?
- Who are its main competitors?
- Are they a public company, family-owned company, start-up firm or venture-capital-funded business?
- What do analysts project in terms of growth for the market the company serves?
- Do they operate in an industry that's highly regulated with changes that could totally derail the business?
Why Employer Research Pays Off
Knowledge is power and within these sites, there is enough information to provide you with unique insight into the hiring practices, salaries and operating practices of any given company. You can get a feel for the general attitude or culture of the company, before you even step foot in the door for your first interview.
Rich Hein is a senior writer for CIO.com. He covers IT careers.
