How to Research a Company for a Job Interview

How to Research a Company for a Job InterviewHow to Research a Company for a Job InterviewYou may have heard the advice that its important to have some questions for the hiring manager when youre bewerberinterviewing for a job. While its true that interviewers will expect you to be curious and interested in their organization, and to show that by asking questions, its also true that you should come to the interview with a good baseline of knowledge about the company. Hopefully, youll learn a lot about the company during the interview- like whether the organization and the company culture are a good fit for you, for example. But during the interview is not the time to learn basic information about the company. You should know all that before you set foot in corporate HQ. The good news is that its easier than ever before to learn about an employer before the job interview. Take some time, in advance, to learn as much as you can online. Then, tap into your real-world network to see who you know who can help give you an interview edge over the other candidates. Do your research, and youll make a much better impression on the hiring manager. Here are tips for researching companies before the interview. 1. Visit the Company Website Start by visiting the company website. There, you can review the organizations mission statement and history, products and services, and management, as well as information about the company culture. The information is usually available in the About Us section of the site. If theres a Press section of the website, read through the featured links there. Pay attention to themes that come up repeatedly on the site. As much as any stated corporate values, the words companies choose to describe themselves are telling. Do you want to work at a place where people are driven to excellence, or does that make you feel tired? Do you like the idea of working with people who consider their coworkers family, or do you need more distance between your job and your personal life? Of course, organizations use hyperbole when talking about themselves...but its often pretty telling hyperbole. 2. Browse Social Media Next, check the companys social media accounts. Visit their Facebook, Google, Instagram, and Twitter pages. This will give you a good sense of how the company wants its consumers to see it. Like or follow the company to get updates. Youll find information you may not have found otherwise. You may also uncover some red flags. If the organization doesnt have a professionally managed social media presence, for example, or if its updated sporadically and inconsistently, they might not be totally in control of their public image. 3. Use LinkedIn LinkedIn company profiles are a good way to find, at a glance, more information on a company youre interested in. Youll be able to see your connections at the company, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics. If you have connections at the co mpany, consider reaching out to them. Not only can they put in a good word for you, but they may also share their perspective on the company and give you tips that will help you ace the interview. As well, take a look at your interviewers LinkedIn profile to get insight into their job and their background. Look for any common links between you. Do you know the same people? Did you go to the same school? Are you part of the same groups, online or off? Those common links could help you establish rapport during the interview process. 4. Get an Interview Edge Consider looking up the company on Glassdoor. Their Interview Questions and Reviews section has a goldmine of information for job seekers. You can find out what candidates for the positions you are interviewing for were asked and get advice on how tough the interview was. Use reviews to help get a sense of company culture. That said, take them with a grain of salt- employees are often most likely to leave reviews when they are unhappy. As you read reviews, look for repeated themes. The more mentions a given subject gets (whether its praise for flexible hours or frustration with senior management) the more likely it is to be accurate. 5. Use Google and Google News Search both Google and Google News for the company name. This can be invaluable. You may find out that the company is expanding into Asia, for instance, or received a round of start-up funding. Or, you may find out that a recent product underperformed or had to be recalled. This knowledge can help shape your responses to interview questions. 6. Tap Your Connections Do you know someone who works at the company? Ask them if they can help. If youre a college grad, ask your career office if they can give you a list of alumni who work there. Then email, send a LinkedIn message, or call and ask for assistance. 7. Get to Know the Industry and Competitors As well as researching the company, it makes sense to review the overall industry. If yo ure interviewing for a job at a mortgage company, for instance, its helpful to be informed about current home ownership trends. Get to know the companys biggest competitors and identify their successes and flaws, too. Insight into the companys industry and rivals are bound to impress interviewers. How to Use This Research During Interviews During a job interview, interviewers ask questions to get to know candidates. But their main goal is to determine if a candidate will be a good fit for the position and company. Your company research will make your responses to questions compelling and show that youll be helpful to their goals and bottom line. Plus, your knowledge will help you give a specific answer if youre asked why youd like to work for the company. You can share details about things you find admirable about the company, its mission, or its culture.

How to Get That Promotion You Want

How to Get That versetzung You Want How to Get That Promotion You Want Article by Tania FieroAfter a year working as a human resources manager, I thought I welches ready for a director-level promotion. Or, more accurately, I was worried that continuing to perform tactical HR responsibilities that could be easily outsourced wasnt a sound long-term career plan. So, my goal was to do more strategy work in the field of HR.The only problem? I had literally no idea what that meant. I enrolled in a 12-month program alongside other HR professionals with the goal of figuring out how we could bring more strategic thinking to our jobs.After I finished the class, I set out to prove how strategic I was, but it was an epic failure. I tried helping the sales team out by offering our clients lower-cost benefit options, which sounds like a good plan, right? Except I didnt think the execution through, and the change in our benefit plans led to some upset employees, including (unfortunately) our comp anys president.Soon, I saw another opportunity to prove my strategic savvy. ur teams turnover had ticked up, so I suggested that we assess our culture and create an employee value prolokalitt. This time, I got it right. Our business has been named one of its citys best places to work for 10 years running.Unfortunately, I still didnt get the HR director role, nor did I get that year-one promotion I was looking for. It wasnt until a few years later that I realized what was really holding me back I never asked for what I wanted. Because I didnt ask for what I wanted, when I was finally promoted to vice president - a higher role than the one I originally had in mind - I had to go through a tough adjustment period.Attaining a new role is all about asking questions. Before you pop the big one, you need to ask yourself and your boss a series of smaller ones. I didnt know how to ask those questions when I was looking for a promotion. Now, I help my employees ask them whenever theyre ready for new responsibilities. Here are a few to get you startedWhy Do I Want This Job?I shouldve had better communication with my boss, but my biggest mistake was not asking myself why I truly wanted the role. At the time, all I saw was the shiny title and the safety of a director-level role. Not exactly the right motivation.Challenge yourself to list three reasons the responsibilities of the new role are better than your responsibilities now. If you cant answer this, you have homework to do. How are you going to convince your boss youre ready for a promotion if you dont know why you want it yourself?Because I never asked myself why I wanted that job, I didnt know what I should doin buchung to excel in the role, and it was a tough adjustment when I finally got promoted to vice president. Now, when employees ask me how they can get a promotion, I tell them to start with this question.Why Am I NotReady for This Role?Identify three skills or competencies youd have to develop in order to b e successful in the job you want. For each, find a way to escape your comfort zone. Beyond growing your skills, youll show that you can handle the discomfort of a new role with grace and confidence.For example, when I was hoping for the HR director role, I wasnt a confident public speaker. I knew I would need to build this skill before I could speak successfully in front of employees, clients, and the community. At the time, I was a member of a local professional association, and I was approached by the board of directors to consider becoming president. I accepted the offer, knowing Id be speaking in front of hundreds of members on a monthly basis. It was nerve-racking, but it was also the training I needed.Working in HR, I have met plenty of people who expect their companies to train them. Even if youre not ready for a promotion, creating your own growth opportunities helps you stand out and show your boss youre ready to talk about advancing.What Skills Would Cause Me to Be Overloo ked for a Promotion?Now you just need to determine your training plan. Ask your boss for help if needed, or talk to other leaders about how they built their own new skills and added value to the company.After doing this, I ended up borrowing one idea - about partnering HR with marketing - to create an employee engagement campaign that included a company culture video that is still used as part of our sales strategy. I identified something I needed to learn, and I went out and learned it.When you ask this question, be prepared to hear anything and, above all, prove that youre willing to do the work. Point out the homework youve already done to shore up the shortcomings you identified earlier. At this point, your boss should be engaged in the conversation, sharing suggestions oftheirown and willing tohelp you create a growth plan.What Does Success in This Role Look Like Within the First Year?When that promotion opportunity does come up - hopefully once youve made some progress on y our growth plan - its time to ask your boss this question. Listen for not only the roles responsibilities, but also the level of commitment necessary to be successful.Take some time to think about whether you can accommodate the positions requirements and whether the position fits your idea of work/life balance. If youre having this discussion, your boss probably sees that youre serious about developing the skills. Next, you need to decide what youre willing to sacrifice. For example, you might learn that the role would require you to work weekends. If youre a parent, would you be willing to give up that time with your children?My first year as vice president would have been much easier if Id asked this question up front. Now that I have a little more authority, Ivebrought this ideato our performance management programs so that each newly hired or newly promoted employee has a way to find out exactly what is expected of them.Remember, your boss wants you in the right role as much a s you do. Dont despair if you dont get the promotion. The perfect fit can take time, and your boss knows that. As long as they know what you want and how hard youre willing to work for it, theyll help you find it.A version of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.com.Tania Fiero is vice president of human resources at Innovative Employee Solutions, a nationwide employer of record founded in 1974 in San Diego that specializes in payrolling and contractor management services for todays contingent workforce.

Former Uber engineer Susan Fowler fears shes being targeted for revealing discrimination

Former Uber engineer Susan Fowler fears shes being targeted for revealing discriminationFormer Uber engineer Susan Fowler fears shes being targeted for revealing discriminationFormer Uber engineer Susan Fowler said on Twitter today that she believes she has become the target of a smear campaign.Earlier this week, Fowler wrote a blog post detailing graphic sexual harassment at the company. The post resonated with many women and set off a firestorm of criticism against Uber. The ensuing controversy resulted in famously cool CEO Travis Kalanick responding strongly and becoming emotional. The company even made reference to the engineers claims in customer tafelgeschirr interactions during the week, when users started to delete the ride-hailing app in protest. Shortly after publishing her explosive description of sexual discrimination at Uber, Fowler said she received such an outpouring of support that her Twitter and Mail apps were jammed.A few days later, however, Fowler suspects a back lash. She said publicly that someone has launched a smear campaign, looking for details on her personal life.Research for the smear campaign has begun. If you are contacted by anyone asking for personal and intimate info about me, please report asap, Fowler said on Twitter.Tech observers immediately suspected Uber. The company quickly replied that it has no connection to any intimidation or smear campaign against Fowler.This behavior is wrong and Uber is absolutely not involved in it, an Uber representative told Ladders.A long February for UberUber has had a challenging February. It has struggled to recover from a Delete Uber campaign started by activists outraged by Kalanicks involvement with the Trump administrations business advisory council.Responding to the sexual discrimination allegations in Fowlers blog post, Kalanick said in a memo that former US Attorney General Eric Holder will examine the ex-employees claims and diversity and inclusion at Uber more broadly.The company sa ys Ubers technology teams have consistently included roughly 15% women.Facebook is at 17%, Google at 19%, and Twitter is at 15%.He said the company would publish a diversity report in coming months.