By Hal Bent, Senior Director of Communications
Anyone in the human capital business has received (or passed along) emails and websites chock full of interview blunders. Although I am often incredulous that any of these embarrassing mistakes could have even taken place, there have been times where I have been tempted to add my own stories to the list. In my own experiences, it is not that the candidate is ignorant but rather that he or she is simply not prepared. During an interview, a candidate will reveal that he has no idea with whom he is interviewing or what the company does or how he would fit within that organization. A little research would have gone a long way.
In the past, “research” meant spending hours in the library poring through hard-copy annual reports, directories, and microfilm. Now that there is some much information available online, both free and for a fee, it is a sign of laziness and/or a lack of enthusiasm if you come unprepared for an interview. Proper research not only communicates interest and initiative but also may help you:
• Determine the company’s problems or challenges, so that you may potentiallyA successful research strategy consists of two phases: gathering information and extracting the relevant and salient points.
formulate and present solutions.
• Identify a company’s goals and mission, its position in the industry, and the comparison with competition.
• Create an edge over other candidates who may know little about the company or industry.
• Forge contacts or connections in the field
• Learn more about your own interests.
There are many different ways to find more information about a company. A company’s website provides basic information such as contact info, corporate structure, mission statement, products and services, as well as job postings and press releases. Determining if the company is public or private is often extremely advantageous at this stage. Public companies are publicly traded and thus must, by law, release company information to the public. Because they are usually larger, better publicized, considered newsworthy, and have popular products and services, there is often more information being available.
For smaller private companies, examining their website and scouring the Internet is often the best way to find additional information, including links from client company pages, online associations or directories, and news articles. If there is no webpage (or you cannot find it) and there is no other useful information on the Internet, consider calling the company directly and requesting a press kit or even asking specific questions.
The second stage of research involves extricating useful data from all the information you have gathered. Having too much information can be as troublesome as having too little:. hundreds of pages on a company is useless if all you need is the name of a key decision maker, just as having only a contact name is useless if you are searching for the company’s role in the industry and recently released products. In most circumstances, the information to be extracted falls into one of these categories:
• Executive Names/Biographical Information. Searching the Internet may lead you to recent press releases or journal and news articles which may contain contact names and biographical information. You should look not just at company webpages but also for press releases online as well as any newspaper and business journal archives.Research is an integral part of any successful job search. Despite the influx of information on the Internet, research still requires time and effort to get useful results. But those efforts will pay off in an interview as you have all the facts about the company, ideas to help them solve issues they may be facing, and knowledge about their industry, their role in the industry, and background data to ask insightful, intelligent follow-up questions.
• Financial Information. Analyzing a public company’s financial information is helpful in ascertaining if they are expanding or downsizing and/or growing rapidly or consolidating. The financial will also provide insight into whether the company has a stable history or has just blazed onto the scene. All such information is useful in determining where their needs may be for generating new sources of revenue or controlling costs.
• Development Plans. You may wish to learn about a company’s new products or services are or what it is currently researching or developing. Looking to see what the company has done in the past allows you to brainstorm effectively on how your skills can impact the company’s trajectory. You can find this information on the company webpage or in press or news areas of that company or others with whom they do business or have a relationship. Again, speaking directly with someone at the organization may be the best way to get current information. Furthermore, to keep up-to-date on the industry itself, study local business journals, the business section of the local newspaper, and any field publications. Be on the lookout for information on company growth, restructuring, contracts, new clients, relocations, etc. Read everything and, most importantly, read between the lines.
Since beginning in 2002, HiProFile has established relationships with organizations throughout New England needing to fill positions at the $100–400K base salary level. Unlike outplacement firms or “headhunters,” HiProFile carefully selects its member companies and the executive candidates provided to them. In other words, the firm maintains a “by invitation only” policy regarding member companies and executive talent and does not advertise to solicit either. Additional questions or information should be directed to Hal Bent, Senior Director of Communications (hbent@hpfjobs.com).
HiProFile LLC ● 125 Summer Street ● Boston, MA 02110 ● 617-345-0007 ● http://www.hiprofilellc.com/
