Savings bank interest rates should be raised to 6%: Rana Kapoor, MD & CEO, YES Bank

The Value of Researching Ahead of an Interview

Successfully navigating your way through a job interview requires more than knowing how to answer the hard questions. Researching the role and the organisation that's interviewing you can potentially give you a big advantage on the competition. Company research is one of the best ways to learn about what the company does and what they're looking for in a candidate. You’ll also be better prepared to answer questions relating to the company itself. This positions you as a diligent, forward-thinking candidate. How to Research Companies Before Job Interviews Visit the company website Start by visiting the company website. There, you can review the organisation's values, history, products and services. You'll get a feel for the company's culture and potentially an idea of the management structure. You should also read the company’s blog, case studies, and white papers to give you a better idea of their accomplishments and the aspects they value. Browse social media LinkedIn company profiles are a good way to find more information on a company you're interested in. You'll be able see your connections at the company, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics. If you have connections at the company, consider reaching out to them. Networking is very important to many industries, including tech. Not only can your connections put in a good word for you, but they may also share their perspective on the company. Like or follow the company to get updates. The company's Facebook, Google+, Instagram, and Twitter pages each reveal something different about the business. This will give you a more well-rounded sense of the company culture and how the public interacts with it. Use Google and Google News Search both Google and Google News for the company name. This can be really invaluable. You may find out that the company is expanding into Asia, for instance, or received a round of start-up funding. This knowledge can help shape your responses to interview questions. Get to know the industry and competitors As well as researching the company, it makes sense to review the overall industry. If you're interviewing for a SAP role, for instance, it's important to be informed about the latest trends and innovations. Get to know the company's biggest competitors and identify their successes and flaws, too. Insight into the company's industry and rivals demonstrates that you're invested and care about the role. 7 Useful Things to Research About the Business 1. The company’s culture and values The value of a good culture fit cannot be overstated. Whether you're interviewing for a project or a full-time role, you need to make sure that your way of conducting business aligns with theirs. You want to be able to confidently say you're a good fit for the company’s culture during any job interview. As you research the employer, pay attention to what’s written on their website regarding the company’s values and mission. You can also learn more about the company culture by following the organisation on its social media networks. 2. The company's clients, products, and services It's important to have an idea of the type of work you’ll be doing once you're successful in your interview. Having a good idea of who the company’s clients are and the types of products and services are offered will allow you to prepare answers to questions that have relatable context to the interviewer. Demonstrating your strengths within the context of the interviewer's frame of reference will make it easier for them to understand how you will best fit into their organisation. 3. News and recent events involving the employer When you go into a job interview, it’s always a good idea to be knowledgeable about the company’s latest news and updates. Most companies have a page on their website dedicated to press releases and events. This is a great source for you to find out information regarding the company’s latest news and updates. 4. The skills and experience the organisation values You need to know what the company looks for in a qualified candidate. You should have a good idea of this already if you tailored your CV specifically for this role. You need to continue focusing on these skills in the interview stage to back up what you've written down. 5. Key players of the business The key players within an organisation are those employees who hold important positions in the company. These individuals can be managers, department directors, and especially the CEO or director of the company. You can find out who the key players of the organisation are by reading the employer’s “About” page and employee bios. It’s also a good idea to check out what these individuals say on Twitter and LinkedIn. Additionally, it's helpful to discover who the interviewer will be. This will give you an advantage during the interview because you’ll have a better chance of connecting with them and sparking a meaningful conversation. 6. The inside scoop To ensure you’re fully prepared for the job interview, our recruitment consultants will give you the benefit of our knowledge. We cultivate long term relationships with our clients, so we can give you inside details about the role and the company that you can’t find online. 7. Where the interview will take place This seems like a simple one, but you'd be surprised by the number of people who get lost on the way to an interview. You want to make the best possible impression and being late doesn't help that. Don't just rely on the sat nav, take a trip up to the interview location before the interview day to get accustomed to the area, find parking and know where you need to go when you get out of the car. How to use this research in your interview During a job interview, your interviewer will ask questions designed to help them get to know you. But their main goal is to determine whether you're a good fit for the position and company. Your company research will make your responses to questions compelling and show that you'll be a valuable asset to the business. Plus, your knowledge will help you give a specific answer if you're asked why you'd like to work for the company. You can share details about things you find admirable about the company, its mission, or its culture. Success in an interview is all about the preparation. Know all the questions, know all the answers and you'll sail through.

10 Interview Questions That Are Hard To Answer... And How To Answer Them

Knowing how to answer a difficult question during a job interview is a valuable skill. It's important to come across as both honest and confident without appearing too self-assured. You need to be ready for anything and be able to think fast. As part of your interview prep, you should plan the answers to the standard questions and try to anticipate what you will be asked. With the right preparation, you can turn a tough interview question into a chance to show off your best qualities. 1. "What is your biggest weakness?" This question can go one of three ways. Either you choose a weakness so perfunctory it doesn’t offer anything of value ("I really find it hard to stop working"), or you'll jeopardise your chances of getting the job by saying you don't know how to do it. Ideally, take the third option: Identify a credible weakness, but elaborate specifically how you overcame it. This demonstrates your problem-solving skills and makes you appear optimistic and pro active. 2. "Give me an example where you completed X or give me an example when you did Y" When giving examples in a competency-based interview, remember to be clear and detailed. Giving examples is like telling a story — you have a start, middle and end with a clear order. Focus on staying on track and don't get sidetracked during your explanation. Most importantly, use "I" rather than "we". In competency-based interviews, interviewers are looking for your competencies, not your team's. Interviewers will fail candidates that don't demonstrate their direct input into a project. 3. "Why are you leaving your current job?" This is a very telling question that reveals more about you than you might think. A negative response, like "I wasn't challenged" or "My co-workers and I didn't get on" doesn't tell the interviewer anything valuable. Embedded in these responses is that someone or something in the company was wrong. These types of answers demonstrate a negative mindset. Be positive about your current position and your future prospects. Talk about how a change will empower you and enable you to flourish. 4. "What sort of salary are you looking for?" You want to aim high, but don't put yourself out of salary range? On the other hand, if your target salary is too low, you leave the employer room to go even lower. During an interview, you could try to skirt around the question with a broad answer, such as, “My salary expectations are in line with my experience and qualifications.” Or, “If this is the right job for me, I am sure we can come to an agreement on salary.” But if the interviewer is after a specific number, make sure you've done your research or discussed this question with your recruiter to get a feel for what the employer is expecting to pay. 5. "What is your most significant achievement?" This question is designed to assess your values and attitude as much as your achievements. You're more likely to come across well if you choose to discuss something you're genuinely proud of, which could be because it involved leading others, overcoming obstacles or persisting in the face of the odds. 6. "Why should I hire you?" To best answer this question, go back to your CV and look through it for the three to five things that make you outstanding. These qualities should accent your work ability, such as problem solving and tenacity. Remember, the notion is that past performance is always the best predictor of future performance. 7. "How would your friends describe you?" This is another question that is best answered with an anecdote. Context for why you think your friends would describe you in a certain way adds credibility to your claim. But be humble, not arrogant. Telling them that you are amazing and loved by everyone is more likely to be a red flag to interviewers. 8. "Explain a complex database to your 6 year old nephew" Explaining complex systems or processes shows the interviewer that you have a solid and adaptable understanding of what you do. Particularly in tech, where not only do you have to work with complex systems, you are often required to explain things to non-proficient stakeholders. Make sure you are able to describe what you do in simple terms, using comparisons that most people can understand, and concepts that are easy to grasp. 9. "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Hiring managers want to know that you’re setting realistic goals for your career as well as gauge your ambition and whether or not the role aligns with your goals and your plan for growth. It’s critical to have your own vision for where your career is going and how it will fit with the employers’ strategies going forward. It's in companies' best interest to make sure they're making their workers' skills, experience, and interests a priority and to help them navigate and nurture a growth and development plan. 10. "Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult person" This question gets to the core of what you're like to work with. The hiring manager needs to know what type of co-worker you struggle to collaborate with and whether you know how to find a way to work together successfully with that type. This is especially important for project work or short term contracts. You may be jumping into established teams or even leading them. You will be paid to do a job, and that means getting along with all types of people, even ones who don't work like you do.

Job Search

CLOUD & SOFTWARE TECH

INFO SEC

SAP

Savings bank interest rates should be raised to 6%: Rana Kapoor, MD & CEO, YES Bank

28/04/2014 by

Recruiting now?

Recent Articles

The Value of Researching Ahead of an Interview

10 Interview Questions That Are Hard To Answer... And How To Answer Them

5 Minutes with Senior Infosec Consultant, Uwe Fischer

7 questions with a recruiter... Dan Palmer's recruitment story

Why Are Talented Java Devs Hard to Find?

"We Need Cybersecurity Specialists!" Cry Businesses

Latest Blogs

The Value of Researching Ahead of an Interview

10 Interview Questions That Are Hard To Answer... And How To Answer Them

5 Minutes with Senior Infosec Consultant, Uwe Fischer

7 questions with a recruiter... Dan Palmer's recruitment story