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I
have noticed with many clients that I coach on
interview preparation that most are not familiar
with the companies they are interested in working
for. This makes it very difficult for the clients to
accurately prepare for a position they know little
about. In order to decide on a move that will
benefit your long-term career plans and immediate
position gratification research is your best course
of action.
Going to an interview without doing your research
puts you at a clear disadvantage. Research can be
used as a perfect opportunity to impress your
interviewer or as a way to build rapport at the
onset of the interview. It can leverage your salary
negotiations by letting the employer know that you
are aware of their corporate pay scale and what the
job position is really worth to them.
In
larger companies, the person who writes the ad for
the position is usually not related to the
department or unit in need of additional staff. The
description may not be as accurate or effectively
written as it should be and by researching the
facility you can be prepared when communicating with
your possible future employer.
After accepting the new position you will spend a
large part of everyday with the people in your area
or department. Have you checked into the atmosphere
or culture of the company? What is the general
employee attitude towards the company? Many
resources for larger companies are available on the
Internet that provides yearly ratings on the best
industries, jobs, and companies.
Another way to discovering more about the companies
you are interested in is by looking up articles
written on the company of interest or the desired
industry. It is a great way to learn more about the
company written by others than the company on all
areas of the company structure, future plans, and
successes, and their competitors which can be new
companies to look into for possible employment.
A
few other areas that require in-depth research to
get a true understanding and feel for the company
you are intending to interview are the corporate
culture, hiring practices, and even hours expected
to work. It will help to be familiar and in
agreement with the work environment or the
philosophy of the company. It would be a waste of
your time and that of the company for you to go
through the process of getting your resume read,
being asked to interview, prepare and interview for
the position, and finally accept and start the job
only to find out six months down the line that you
disagree or feel uncomfortable working with the
existing management practices or company policies.
Take the time to do your research before you agree
to an interview. During the interview look for signs
of the atmosphere or ask questions if still unsure.
You deserve to work in an environment that is a
great fit, where you will feel comfortable to work
to fulfill your potential and where you agree with
the goals and objectives of the company. Research is
key in finding just the right job for you.
Kris Plantrich
is the owner
of ResumeWonders Writing and Career Coaching
Services. She is a Certified Professional Resume
Writer and a Certified Employment Interview
Professional. The original copy of this article can
be seen by going to
www.resumewonders/blogspot.com or by
visiting
www.resumewonders.com. Reuse of this
article is encouraged but must include a link to
http://www.resumewonders.com.
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