Why Research the Job?
Well, the simple answer is that you will be more comfortable in the interview situation if you know all about the company, its products, markets, staff, management and finances. This will enable you to assess how to answer questions and how to formulate your responses so that they show a working knowledge of their operations and what the job might entail.
How to do the research?
- Research any published material on the company that is available on the web.
- Do a search using Google or any of the popular search engines and find out about their products and services
- Use the web search to find out who the competitors are
- See who is linked to their website
- Look in the newspapers and business journals for information on the company
- If they are a listed organisation - check the Stock Exchange listings for financial information and major shareholders
- Find out who owns the company
- Find out who is on the management board
- Check the organisational structure if there is information published on it
- Contact the appropriate person within the company for published material - most big companies have a Public Relations department.
- If you know anyone who works there - contact them and find a time to sit down and talk about how the company works, what the problems are, what is good and bad etc.
Do your Research!