This Is The Most Overlooked Step In Interview Prep

And it’s the easiest way for employers to reject you

“So what does your company do exactly?” Photo by Magnet.me on Unsplash

So you’ve finally landed a job interview from among the dozens of applications you’ve filled out over recent months. What next? You can start by practicing your responses to a few common interview questions, including this simple but difficult question. You should also plan your wardrobe and test your web conferencing platform. You could even pick out a few decorative objects to place in your home office space to appear on screen. Maybe the ukulele that you never play or a stack of books you never plan to read?

Corporate Research Is The Most Overlooked Step

What many job candidates forget is to research the organization that will be hiring them. This may end up being one of the first questions during your interview:

“Tell me what you know about our organization and what you understand about the job description.”

At first glance, it seems like an innocent question. Your answer, however, reveals both your interest in the position and your attention to detail, both of which could be deciding factors in setting you apart from other qualified candidates. Even if you’re not asked such a direct question, your research will be apparent in your responses to other questions, and in the questions you ask the interviewers.

Also, by learning about the company you can decide if you want to work there… alignment with values, future potential, etc. Who knows, you may withdraw your application before the interview based on what you learn!

Do your research! Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

How To Research An Organization:

1. Start with their official website. What achievements do they highlight?
2. Get familiar with their products and clients.
3. Read their wikipedia page and focus on the company’s history and recent controversies.
4. Do a google search (news search and google scholar search) and read any annual reports, white papers, press releases, or other documents you can find.
5. Read the brief biographies of the key people involved in the company (founders, current management, etc.).
6. Read through the organization’s recent posts on social media.
7. Read reviews of the organization via glassdoor to give you insight into the daily operation of the company, via anonymous evaluations made by current or former employees.
8. Activate your network. Use linkedin to see if you know someone who works or has worked there in the past. Now is the time to call in those favors to get that insider intel!

Demonstrating your knowledge of the organization as you respond to interview questions sends a strong signal that you are both prepared and qualified.

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