Do Your Research
- Nicholas S. Ferber
- Mar 14, 2019
- 2 min read
So got the interview. Great! Now what?
If you are serious about the opportunity and more importantly serious about how others view you, you need to do your research!
You're about to meet with a company, ostensibly to join them as a valuable perhaps even integral team member and ideally stay for years. Why would you know want to know what that might entail?
A company the has a culture of respect, respect both for its employees and itself will judge a candidate very harshly if they know little or nothing about the company they hope to join.
The company has a website, it's a virtual certainty, and any candidate hoping to do well in the interview process should spend some quality time on the site. What does the company do? When was it founded? Who are the key employees? What is the company mission statement? These questions and so many more are likely to be answered by spending 30 minutes on the company website.
Who are you meeting with? Assuming the person is alive and well in 2019, they should have a LinkedIn presence, and so much valuable information can be gleaned from that site. Where did they go to school? How long have they been at the company, where were they previously, etc. This knowledge will help a candidate connect with an interviewer, perhaps even uncover some relevant common ground, same university, hometown, past employer, etc.
The question is...why would someone not take full advantage of all information that is available. The perception is that the candidate is too lazy, too unintelligent, or just doesn't care about the opportunity.
By contrast, doing your research will always impress. It may not get you the job, but it will absolutely get noticed and help in the process.
Congratulations on landing the interview! It's so true that doing your research is crucial. Understanding the company's culture and values not only shows that you're genuinely interested but also helps you determine if it's the right fit for you. As mentioned in the article, a company with a
culture of respect will definitely look for candidates who have a solid grasp of what they stand for. Taking the time to learn about their mission and projects can really set you apart from other applicants. Good luck!