Employer Research Tips
Before you go to that interview, be sure you first do your homework! Using the tips below, you can learn quite a bit about the company that you are applying to before sitting down with an interviewer.Start with the job description
The organization will expect you to have read through the job specification before you apply, let alone before the interview. Check it thoroughly and glean information on your department or function area.
What are the recruiters really looking for? How do your skills and experience match up to that?
Use the Internet
Go to the organization’s website and read up on it. Browse other sites – like news sites and social networks – for other mentions of the company. What is it known for? What is its reputation? Where is it heading?
Look at your interviewers’ profiles on the company website and social networking sites. What are their responsibilities within the business? Is there anything relevant in their career background? What projects do they lead? Which business areas are they interested in?
Get on the phone
Call the organization’s HR department or reception and ask about the company, the role, the department, and how the business is going. Sometimes you’ll be amazed at how much information they have and are willing to share.
Connect through LinkedIn
Use LinkedIn to find people within the business, what they do and perhaps they’re happy to have a chat with you. Check your own connections and even your shared connections for greater access to people. Use LinkedIn’s introductions function to ask a connection for an introduction to one of their connections.
Use your connections
If you have a connection that will help you find inside information, use it. Do you know someone who works there? Ask them if they can help. If you're a college grad ask your Career Office if they can give you a list of alumni who work there. Then call or email and ask for assistance.
Seek out career advice
Use sites like WetFeet (http://www.wetfeet.com/advice-tools) to touch up on your interview and job hunting skills. These sites will answer some of your biggest questions, such as: "Should I use Facebook as a job-seeking tool?"..."How can I use Twitter to spot a job opportunity?"
Read more at: http://jobmob.co.il/blog/company-research-tips/#ixzz1sGYM1AAC
and http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/employerresearch/a/companyresearch.htm
