There are two common interview questions that you will almost certainly be asked. One is, “Why do you want to work here?” The other is, “What do you know about the company?” They ask this because they want to know why you’re interested in the business and position, and whether or not you’ve done your research. Don’t go into an interview without doing your due diligence.
Learn About the Company Culture, Mission, and Values:
Spend time reading the company website. Most sites will have an “about” page and a “careers” page. The “about” page is helpful for learning why the company was founded, what they do, and the mission or values of the organization. The “careers” page is useful for learning about company culture. Follow the company on social media for a behind-the-scenes view of what matters to them, recent updates, and company culture and events.
Know Key Team Members:
Don’t go to an interview without learning about the founders, important team members, and your interviewer. Read the team page, follow a few team members on social media, and do a quick LinkedIn search of the company to learn about team members. Just make sure you don’t ask the interviewer about his cat Murphy, congratulate him on his recent wedding, or say that his latte looked great that morning. You want to be prepared…not creepy.
Read News About the Company:
Show you’re prepared by reading and referencing current news about the company. Read the press page of the site, set up Google Alerts and a Newsle Account, and follow the company on social media to stay updated on current events. When I interviewed at my current company I knew to congratulate them on being named number six on Crain’s Best Places to Work in NYC. Needless to say, the hiring manager was impressed. Reading current events will also help you understand the company’s goals, recent updates, and their success so far.
Engage Your Network:
When you’re interviewing for a job you don’t want to tell your entire network that you’re looking for a job. It’s a small world and there is a chance it would get back to your boss. But you do want to talk with people connected to the company. Do a search on LinkedIn and Facebook. If you’re in a Facebook search, simply type “People who work at (Company Name)” to find a list of people. Now look and see if you have mutual friends in common. Reach out to those mutual friends to see if they can tell you more about the company or put in a good word for you. Use the advanced search feature on LinkedIn to do the same thing. You can even filter to find alumni of your university who work at the company. I’ve always found that alumni are willing to help—send them a quick email to get coffee, ask questions over email, or chat on the phone.
Know the Skills They Care About:
Read the job description multiple times to learn what they’re looking for in an ideal candidate. Companies hire because they need someone to come in and solve a problem. You need to show why you’re the person who can solve it. Be prepared to talk about how your experiences and skillsets are aligned.
Now that you’re prepared, take a deep breath and get ready to ace your interview.
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