There is not much you can do to avoid the nail-biting experience that naturally takes over when you have a big job interview coming up. But there are things you can do to help prepare and ensure the interview goes smoothly.
Of course, you’re going to want to brush up on your resume and answers to common job interview questions. But if you really want to land that job, you are also going to want to research the company.
Researching potential employers is one of the best ways to help you stand out during the interview and recruiting process.
Here are five things you can research to help you land that highly-coveted second interview for a new position.
1. Company Execs
This may seem like common sense, but so many people get caught up in prepping themselves that they forget to find out who they are interviewing with. When you learn about your interviewer and all the C-level execs at the company, you can ask more targeted questions and impress your interviewer with your knowledge.
On the flip side, you may learn something that deters you from wanting to work for this company. And that can save you the time and hassle of interviewing in the first place.
2. Company Culture
Company culture is so important, and it’s one of the things your interviewer will assess during your interview. Not only do they want to know that you’re the right person for the job, but they’ll also want to see if your personality and work ethic is aligned with company culture.
Before your interview, do some research on corporate culture on the company’s website and around the web. If it’s a large corporation, you should find a wealth of information.
3. News And Recent Events
Company culture and values can definitely paint a picture of what a company stands for, but so can recent news. In fact, there are times when recent news is more telling. For example, finding that a company made a major charitable donation may be some good news worthy of mentioning during your interview. On the other hand, if your search turns up a lawsuit claiming the company put workers’ lives in jeopardy, you may decide to reconsider your application.
4. Clients And Customers
There’s something to be said about the company we keep. And if you were to get this job, you may be associated with the clientele the company caters to. Sometimes this is a good thing. If you can speak knowledgeably about the company’s target demographic, you may just land the job.
5. The Real Story
Every company will have its share of disgruntled employees. It’s important to expect that not every company review will be stellar. But if there are enough reviews on a site like GlassDoor, you can get a good feel for whether working for this company is a positive or negative experience. And if you find anything concerning, feel free to bring it up in the interview.
If you want the job, avoid being confrontational, but you can ask about any themes you’ve seen in workplace reviews. You’ll get the answers you need, and you may also get brownie points for arriving prepared.
Interviewing can be a stressful process, but you can up your chances of landing your dream job when you arrive for the interview prepared.