Published: 14 April 2021
You’ve made it past the application phase. The business you’re applying for likes you and thinks you might be a good fit for them.
But now you must prove it. So, how do you get ready for your face-to-face or, during the pandemic, online interview?
Preparation is the key to reaching your goals. Find out the things you need to research before you sit down for an interview.
What does the company value?
The most basic thing you need to know is what do they care about? That will give you some idea of the kind of employee they're looking for.
The easiest way to do this is to have another read through the job description. Look for patterns in the things they’re asking you to do.
Do they mention a busy work environment or flexibility? They’ll be looking for people that not only cope in those situations but thrive.
Another tip when it comes to understanding the culture of a company is to get in touch with some of their current employees.
Look them up on LinkedIn and ask them what it’s like to work there.
Who’s in charge?
It’s useful to understand the organisational structure of the company from the very beginning.
Look into the CEO, Senior Management Team and the person who will be managing you if you get the job.
Take a look at the company’s ‘About’ section on their website and read through the key player’s biographies.
It’s also worthwhile looking them up on Twitter, LinkedIn and Glassdoor to see the kinds of things they talk about.
What’s the latest news?
Before you step into that interview room (or turn on your Zoom chat), it’s a good idea to know the most up to date stories about a company.
Lots of businesses have news sections on their website where they share information and press releases.
It’s also a good idea to do your own search in the media for the company to get find out what others are saying too.
Do they have a mission?
It’s important that you feel comfortable at a company, which is why you might want to take some time to look for their mission statement.
This is normally a document on their website that explains why they do what they’re doing.
Depending on the kind of business you’re applying to, they could talk about their impact on society or the environment, their aims of growing and expanding or pretty much anything.
But make sure their motivations are a match for yours or you might find it difficult to work with them.
Who are their clients?
Again, this depends on the kind of company you’re applying to, but it’s generally a good idea to know who’s hiring them.
You’ll want to take some time to look up their services or products and any case studies of the businesses they work for.
You can usually find this kind of thing on their website, with many company’s keen to show off when they have major organisations on their client list.
Doing research is a really great way of feeling more confident going into an interview.
Not only will you look like a strong candidate, but you’ll have the knowledge to ask insightful questions and make sure that they’re as much a good fit for you as you are for them.
The University of Sunderland in London’s Careers and Employability office is here to help you get ready for life after you graduate.
To have a one-to-one chat with them, book a meeting through Compass.
Alternatively, email careers-london@sunderland.ac.uk. Find out more by following #WeAreSunLon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.