Through a local recruiting firm, Cindy (not her real name) had landed a meeting with the chief financial officer of a retail company that she hoped to work for. After exchanging small talk, the CFO asked her: “So, what do you think of our stores?”
The candidate replied honestly that she’d never been in one.
Oops. Needless to say, she didn’t get the position.
Preparation and research are always important when trying to land a job, and this is even truer in today’s competitive market.
Employers have long commented that today’s interviewees simply do not do their homework before they turn up for interviews. “We like people who knows a little of what we do, even though their knowledge may be very basic,” one employer said. “Anything you can learn about the company is going to give you a leg up in the interview process. It helps you understand the business, know if it’s a good fit and shows that you’ve taken the extra time and effort that every employer wants to see.”
So where do you start? The Internet is a great tool, and a simple Google search and visit to the employer’s website is a logical place to start.
At the very least, go to the company’s website. If it’s a consumer products company, find out what they make. If they’re a financial services company, learn about types of services they offer. If it’s a retailer, see what products they sell and where their stores are, and and make sure you go to one.
A Google search can turn up news coverage about the company, along with information that might be useful to know. If the company is publicly listed on the local stock exchange, there’s usually a wealth of information available.