Are You Interviewing Potential
Employers?... Well, You Should Be!
When you are a job seeker, it is
very important to understand the company and the actual position the company is
currently looking to fill. Throughout the process you, the candidate, should be
researching. This research should be a combination of online research and
first-hand research through asking direct questions when you have the
opportunity.
Here are a few things to keep in
mind.
1.
Research the Company Online Before Applying.
- Job
Description - Read this more than
once to get an idea of the company, the duties of the role and the needed
and preferred qualifications. (Please keep in mind that you do not need to
have ALL of the qualifications to apply in most cases, however the more
qualifications you do hold, the better.)
- Know
the Business - Understand what the
company actually does to make profits. At the end of the day, employers
want employees that will be able to see the big picture. This means
understanding and helping the company reach business goals.
- Get
the Scoop on What Current Employees Think - Research sites like Glassdoor.com or Indeed.com to find
reviews on the company. When looking at these reviews, search for trends and
please keep in mind that not all reviews can be taken seriously. If see
trends mentioned about the company good/bad there is a greater chance the
information being provided should be noted. Also, you will want to find
reviews from those working in the department you'd potentially work in.
Doing this research will give you a better idea of the company culture.
You will see things like the environment, dress, training opportunities,
management, etc.
- Network - Search a site like LinkedIn.com or even
research the background/bio of your pass professors/colleagues. The idea
is to find out if you know someone that has worked or currently works at
the company you're interested in. This can help in two ways:
- It
will give you a better idea of what the company is like and what they
look for in candidates and possibly the types of people that excel
there.
- Second,
this may give you another way of getting your resume in front of a hiring
manager. At this point you should know whether you will want to pursue
the job so if you know someone who can refer you, your chances of an
snagging interview are going to increase. I cannot emphasize enough how
great referrals are to getting a candidate in the door at a
company.
2.
Ask Questions During the Interview
Okay,
now that you know this is a good opportunity to pursue and you have applied,
you should get a response if you are a good fit for the role. Once you get the
interview, do not stop researching!
- Show You've Done Research - Ask questions about the company/job that you
weren't able to find in your research. And when you ask these questions,
be sure to show you have done research. Example: "During my research
I learned that your company prides itself on maintaining a very open
environment, can you tell me more about the company culture?"
- Ask Follow Up Questions - There is no way that an employer has completely
answered ALL of your questions and you have absolutely no follow up
questions. Do not hold in those lingering questions. It is your job to
leave an interview with a good understanding of the role/company so you
can decide whether the move will be a good fit for you.
3. Recognize the Interviewers Time
- Say Thank You - Remember
to thanks the person(s) answering your questions. It shows that you really
appreciate gaining the insights the interviewer is providing.
Well there you have it! I hope this helps someone who is job
searching. Remember, if this is a job that you are wanting to hold for a while,
you want to be sure that it will be the right step for you and your future
career. It is easy to think that an interview is just time for us to get the
third-degree from an employer, but please know that you should also be
interviewing the company!
Jess
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