As you read the following incorrect scenario, ask yourself if this has ever happened to you. Jane is in the process of an interview. You have applied for twenty jobs, three of which have asked you for an interview. In the first interview, she enters the room and is invited to sit in front of the interviewer. Apart from the welcome, the first thing she says to him is: “What do you know about our company?” With a blank look, Jane sits there and smiles trying to remember any details she can. However, it cannot because the company is not a brand and it was not one of its references. Saying, “I’m not that familiar with your company,” elicits from the interviewer what can be defined as “exasperation.”
If you even said it happened once, it’s too many times. I think that possibly the most embarrassing thing that can happen to a candidate during an interview is forgetting information about the company, the position or the interviewer.
In the news
According to a recent CNN report, most job candidates are unprepared when they walk into an interview. It is important to know that many organizations rely almost strictly on performance during an interview to make final decisions. In other words, if you are dealing with two nearly identically qualified candidates, but one candidate represented himself better in the interview, the best-prepared person will almost certainly get the job offer. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that the potential employer sees your “best self” throughout the process. This means knowing not only yourself, but also the industry and the company. According to his recently published book, “Next-Day Job Interview,” author Michael Farr says, “The more you know about the job, the industry, and the employer, the more likely you are to present yourself well at the interview.”
Tips of the trade
So how can you be better prepared and informed when your next big opportunity presents itself? Here are some tips:
With future vision
While you are in the process of applying for positions, create a file where you can save the following:
- Your summary
- Personalized cover letter for each position
- The contact information of the person to whom you wrote the letter.
- A copy of the job description for each position.
Be thorough
As soon as you have applied for a position, do your research on the organization, the department and its general responsibilities, and any other information that you can find via the internet or through your reference / source. These days, you can learn a lot about a company simply by accessing press releases. A general search on Google can generate such information. If this doesn’t work, check the company’s website to see if they keep a library of public relations material on file. You can also gather additional information by contacting current or former employees, or even asking the interviewer in advance, if you can receive information such as brochures or pamphlets. This will provide you with the kind of information you need to formulate a good company profile and develop engaging questions for the interviewer.
Just remember that knowing general information, such as the type of industry and current stock valuations, will often not bring you down on its own. You need to be thorough and accumulate enough information to know if this potential employer fits your needs, goals, and personality. You should not view an interview as a one-sided event. As you may well know, not all interviews that result in an offer are the ones that you should accept. You should interview the company as much as it is interviewing you.
Think: bigger than the box
I have found that interviewers / recruiters are especially impressed when you can come to the table knowing not only the details about the organization, but also your perception of how you can add value in the potential position. This can be found in the post, and if you wrote your cover letter well, it should be included there as well. Keep the areas that your expertise especially touches in mind in the description, and be sure to mention them when asked why you are the perfect candidate.
Review and study your research
Once you have been asked for an interview, go back to your folder and extract all the information related to that position. Read it immediately and then read it again before entering the interview. If there are areas that you do not understand or areas that you may not qualify for, such as software skills that you do not have, or a particular area of study that you are not familiar with, do the background searches in the following areas: good so you can at least talk to them intelligently. This can help minimize the fact that there is a learning curve and show the potential employer that you are serious enough to have done your research ahead of time.
Be careful
While being knowledgeable is the key to your success, having too much knowledge can seem conceited. For example, don’t tell an interviewer that you reviewed your website and, “Here are 101 ways to improve it.”
One last word
While being thorough is your best bet for success during an interview, there are a few questions to ask the interviewer that will help demonstrate your interest in the position. Only one pair includes the following:
- Was that newly created position what has been in existence? If newly created, have the interviewer adequately explain why it was created and the expectations of the new role. Don’t challenge. Instead, ask insightful questions that will lead you to the conclusion you are looking for.
Ask the manager or interviewer what they think is the biggest challenge facing the organization – that is, the department they would hire you to work for. This shows your interest, your realistic approach to the situation by gathering information from all sides, and will also tell you if you have any special talents or skills to help meet or solve those challenges, which you can then discuss with the interviewee.