If you search for interview tips, interview advice etc. on the internet you get approximately 58,200,000 hits. That’s a lot of articles to wade through but it’s nice to know the subject has been fully reviewed, analyzed, dissected and discussed. If you do start reading some of those articles you’ll find a surprising number of them all offer the same basic advice: be on time; dress professionally; watch your body language; be able to discuss what’s on your resume… All of this is good advice and I recommend you do all of that. But if you really want to wow the interviewer spend plenty of time before the interview researching the company. Nothing impresses a hiring manager more than when you walk into an interview and show your enthusiasm for working there by providing details on why you’re drawn to this company or why you appreciate its values or the products and services it offers and how you can help them reach their goals.
How do you research a company? There are many different ways to find out who they are, what sets them apart from the competition, and their financial health. As a starting point, check out the official website for mission and vision statements for what they feel sets them apart from their competitors. For example, they may put an emphasis on sustainability and engage in such practices as only purchasing sustainable materials or have lowered their energy use. Check out the investor relations tab for information on quarterly earnings, conference calls and the annual report. These calls and reports cover a range of topics (that are often otherwise hard to find), including new products, company risks, and whether revenues are growing or stable. Another source of information is to visit their social media accounts to see their interactions and tone with their followers. Is it purely professional, are they fun and engaging… this will give you a glimpse into their corporate culture. You can read their blogs for news they want you to know and finally use external sources like D&B Hoovers and Inc 500 or other industry publications.
And don’t forget to research your interviewers. Find them on LinkedIn or other social platforms to see if you have any common ground you can build on during the interview.
