Job interviews are a vital step in the hiring process. Asking questions helps employers to determine whether or not an applicant is suitable for the job. If you’re about to go to an interview, you’ll likely be one of several candidates. Since hiring managers will conduct multiple interviews, you want to be able to stand out from the other applicants.
To give you an advantage and help you land the job, you need to do some research on your prospective employer before the interview. Being knowledgeable about the company you’re applying to allows you to anticipate possible interview questions and prepare better answers. It can also help you impress your interviewer and make you a memorable candidate.
Whether you’re applying to call center jobs in Cebu or a different industry in other areas, make sure to find out these key organizational information before heading to your next job interview.
The Organization’s Products or Services
One of the first things you need to research is what the company is all about. Look up the company’s website and find out as much as you can about your potential employer’s business. It will help you have a better understanding of the type of work you’re required to do and how you can best contribute to the company.
Check the company’s brands and what specific products or services they offer. Visit the company’s blog, if they have one. Make sure to research about the clients the company serves, too. This information is often presented on the website’s “About Us” page or in the clients’ testimonials section. Gathering as much knowledge as you can about the company can better prepare you to come up with appropriate answers to company-related questions.
The Company Culture and Values
As you learn about your prospective employer, you should also see if you’re a good fit for the company’s culture. This refers to the attitude and behavior of an organization and its employees. Company culture is pretty evident in how people in the organization interact with each other, their values, and their decision-making process.
When your beliefs and values are aligned with your prospective employer, you’re more likely to enjoy working there. You may also develop better relationships with your coworkers and become more productive. To find out about their company culture, pay close attention to the organization’s mission and values—which are often published on their website. You can also follow the company’s official social media pages and observe the content they post. This should give you a better idea of what working there might be like.
Notable Individuals in the Organization
Apart from learning about company culture, take the time to familiarize yourself with the key players within the organization. These are the individuals who hold important positions or are the decision-makers in the company. They can be managers, department heads, and the CEO or president of the organization. When you find out who the leaders and driving forces of a company are, you’ll also get a better clue about the values they uphold. You can then compare if you have similar beliefs and see if working with them will bring you closer to achieving your professional goals.
To find out who these important leaders are in the company, check the company website for details about their officers. As supplementary research, you can read the news and business profiles on key company figures to learn more about their achievements and leadership style.
Recent News about the Organization
Before going to an interview, it’s best to search for the latest news or updates about your prospective employer. Most companies dedicate a page to their website for news, press releases, and recent events involving the organization. At times, you will also find this information on their social media accounts. Looking for company news will help you have a better sense of what the company has been recently working on. While large organizations have more available information online, you can still find notable news articles and stories for smaller companies.
The goal in researching these latest updates is to help you formulate questions that will hopefully impress the interviewer and help you stand out from other candidates. It shows that you have taken an initiative to learn more about their organization and have a clearer idea of what you can contribute to their company.
The Interviewer or Hiring Manager
Lastly, find out who the interviewer will be and look up information about them. In most cases, the individual is the person you’ve been corresponding with whether through online messaging or email. To be certain, you can politely request the name of the person who’ll interview you. Then, do some research on social media sites to learn about the interviewer’s background and how long they have been in the company. If you’re lucky, you might chance upon a mutual interest or connection you can bring up during the interview. This will help you connect with them better and create a good first impression.
Learning important information about your prospective employer helps you prepare better for the interview. You can formulate informed answers quickly and avoid the embarrassing situation of asking about details readily available on the company’s website. Additionally, being knowledgeable about the company you’re applying for helps you present yourself more confidently to the interviewer—which can be an advantage in getting hired.
