Why Deep Research About a Company will Land You That Job

So you got the call you have been waiting and praying so fervently for since the day you sent that application? What next? While it is okay to doyour short victory jig, need I mention that you should first confirm you pressed the end call button? Need I also remind you that the jigs should be very short? This is because the victory is not won yet. Your potential employers have formed a certain impression of you from your resume. In their minds they think you are close to what they consider their preferred candidate, and you have the task of surpassing these expectations.

So, what should to do, you ask? The first step is ensuring you have all the requirements your potential employer mentioned you carry to the interview. Some interviewers are put off by candidates who lack any or some of the interview requirements.

After assembling the requirements, mostly documentation, portfolios or presentations in some cases, do more homework. As you were applying for the job you probably checked the company’s website. At this stage go deeper. Every candidate will look into the history of the company, their products, vision and all the obvious information in the website. You should take your research a step further. Your interviewer may be looking for the single thing that makes one candidate stand out from the sea of promising talent eager to please. For instance, you could find out what the company’s clients are saying in reviews. Sometimes such information is available in the website or separate blogs. Positive and negative reviews should serve to arm you with information that will hoist you a level above the throng of job seekers eyeing the same position. Positive reviews from clients give you answers to interview questions like;

“Why do you want to join our company?”                                                              

You can state;

“Well, from your users’ reviews I saw happy clients showing their appreciation for your quick response, excellent customer service and innovative products. I would definitely like to be part of a team that is this passionate about customer satisfaction and they live to grow it.”

Negative reviews or complaints should point to you the company’s pain. This should help you position yourself as the guy with the solution. For instance, when asked what value you will be bringing, or why they should hire you, sit up straight because you will blow them away with an informed response.

“I have a rich background in user experience and support. Despite the many positive reviews from your users, I noted a few disgruntled reviews mainly on down time and failing systems. These are issues I have dealt with in the past and I hope to implement with your users and improve customer satisfaction levels.”

Such a response not only shows your deep understanding of the role you are looking to fill, but your analytic skills and the ability to see the bigger picture. You will be miles ahead of other candidates.

Proper research about a company can also reveal information that is not common knowledge to many job seekers. You could stumble upon recent milestones that the company you wish to join recently attained. This will work well to your advantage and the panel of interviewers will be impressed by your keen interest in their company.

At the end of the day, informed answers to a panel will always win over empty bravado in an attempt to impress. Interviewers can see through futile cover-ups efforts trying that replace the lack of planning and research. Be wise.

By  Mueke Katwa– Brighter Monday