Researching Prospective Employers
Posted in Interview Preparation
A job interview does not only involve knowing yourself, but also being aware of your prospective employer. How you know the company customizes your responses to questions, and it also shows the interviewer that you are interested about the company and wanted to make a well-informed decision. It could also be your ground on making impressive questions to the interviewer. So before going to a job interview, here are what you should do to know your interviewer better.
Understand the company's mission
You need to know about the company's purpose and vision. Going to an interview for a company that you do not have an idea what they do would turn off your interviewer. You can view this on the company's website or on the job search advertisement they posted.
Try finding where the company is heading by searching about it in newspapers, business magazines, and the Internet.
Study the company's market
You need to be familiar about who the company caters to. Check what products they make or services they render and determine its customers or clients. You should also take note about its competitors.
Determine the company's structure
You need to find out the company's structure and scope. Things you have to bear in mind include its parent company (if there are), number of employees, ownership of other companies, and strategic alliances.
You should also know whether the company is local, national, or international in scope; as well as if the company has been hiring or laying off workers lately.
Know how they treat its people
Check out the company's employee relations. You can either interview current or former employees and ask for information you need to know whether you are likely to receive the kind of treatment you desire or require; or search through testimonials of employees or ex-employees about their experiences in the company through online discussion forums.
You also need to know the salary range for your desired position, as well as additional benefits, and if any complaints have been filed against the company.
