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Monday's Career Tip: Research the Company and the Industry



As a part of preparation for the job interview, it is recommended that
you research the company and the industry. Familiarize yourself with the
company and its purpose, mission statement and community contributions.
Also, get to know the industry "lingo"; learn specific terms related to
the industry.



There are several ways you can research the company. The first step in
researching, would be the internet. (Where would we be without the
internet?) Nowadays, there are multiple options for finding what you are
looking for. Search engines like Bing and Google, are good choices.
Enter the company's name and see what you can find. Look for information
like a specific company website, or if that is not available, see if you
can find any articles relating to the company's history or community
contributions. Learn as much as you can about the company's policies and
procedures, such as, dress code, atmosphere, and the company's evolving
rate. Contact anyone you know inside the company that may be a good
resource for finding these answers. Also, know the company's
competitors, how they compete and possible differences in product or
service.



Don't forget to research the "lingo" of the industry. This is important,
especially if it is a new career choice. A good place to find some
idea's on the industry lingo, would be to try to find the company's
website. Sometimes, there is a section of quotes from clients of the
company or even top executives from the company. Read what they have to
say. You can also use a search engine to enter the industry name and the
word "lingo". It will pull up websites specifically designed to teach
the lingo!



Now put what you've learned to use! On the interview, you can show your
knowledge of competitors and how you can help that company design or
better their product or service. You can use the industry lingo when
necessary to show you are "in the game", and you can show interest in
the company by mentioning how impressed you are by their many social
activities in the community or in the general industry.