I have noticed with many clients that I coach on interview preparation that most are not familiar with the companies they are interested in working for. This makes it very difficult for the clients to adequately prepare for a position they know little about. In order to decide on a move that will benefit your long-term career plans and immediate position gratification, research is your best course of action.
Going to an interview without doing your research puts you at a clear disadvantage. Why - because it can be used as a perfect opportunity to impress your interviewer or as a way to build rapport at the onset of the interview. It can leverage your salary negotiations by letting the employer know that you are aware of their corporate pay scale and what the job position is really worth to them.
In larger companies, the person who writes the ad for the position is usually not related to the department or unit in need of additional staff. The description may not be as accurate or effectively written as it should be and by researching the facility you can be prepared when communicating with your possible future employer.
After accepting the new position you will spend a large part of everyday with the people in your area or department. Have you checked into the atmosphere or culture of the company? What is the general employee attitude towards the company? Many resources for larger companies are available on the Internet that provides yearly ratings on the best industries, jobs, and companies.
Sites providing a ranking of size and likability of the companies can be found at http://www.fortune.com/. For listings on first-rate jobs within the U.S. Government try http://www.bestplacetowork.org/. Individual states and many larger cities develop lists that are posted on their sites boasting their best companies including http://www.columbus.about.com/. For smaller sized companies the http://www.greatplacestowork.com/ may be helpful.
Another way to discovering more about the companies you are interested in is by looking up articles written on the company of interest or the desired industry. It is a great way to learn more about the company written by others than the company on all areas of the company structure, future plans, and successes, and their competitors which can be new companies to look into for possible employment.
A few other areas that require in-depth research to get a true understanding and feel for the company you are intending to interview are the corporate culture, hiring practices, and even hours expected to work. It will help to be familiar and in agreement with the work environment or the philosophy of the company. It would be a waste of your time and that of the company for you to go through the process of getting your resume read, being asked to interview, prepare and interview for the position, and finally accept and start the job only to find out six months down the line that you agree or feel comfortable working with the existing management practices or company policies.
Take the time to do your research before you agree to an interview. During the interview look for signs of the atmosphere or ask questions if still unsure. You deserve to work in an environment that is a great fit, where you will feel comfortable to work to fulfill your potential and where you agree with the goals and objectives of the company. Research is key in finding just the right job for you.
