As a hiring manager, I was part of a collaborative interview process that usually involved a variety of team members. When we evaluated candidates after a round of interviews, the main question we asked was, “Do they really want this job?”
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What was interesting, but maybe not that surprising, was that how well a candidate did was predicated upon how well she had prepared for the interview. In fact, one person on my team immediately eliminated any prospective person who asked a question that could be found with very little effort on the company’s site, lamenting, “He didn’t even do any research before he came in!”
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If you want to be on the short list, you need to make it clear that you took the time to learn about the company—beyond what you can find out via a quick Google search. Of course, you’ll want to be equipped with the basics: how many employees the company has (if this can be found online), industry rank (depending on the industry), and the latest annual revenue numbers (which may take some digging but probably not an extensive amount).
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But you’ll stand out even more if you can further demonstrate your knowledge about the organization. Being armed with beyond-the-basics information really will give you a competitive advantage.
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Here’s what you need to know:
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1. What and Who the Company Is
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2. What’s Happening in the Industry
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3. The Business Strategy
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4. The Company Culture
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6. The Reputation
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One of the most powerful ways you can stand out is by being prepared with information, statistics, and insights. Being able to speak intelligently about opportunities and challenges enables you to demonstrate how you’ll help the company succeed.
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Trust me: It’s delightful for a hiring manager to see someone who’s really done his or her homework. Because when you do your homework, and can cite a deep knowledge of the employer’s profile, you prove yourself to be a candidate worthy of moving forward.
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Image: Pixabay