You are sitting at the computer, browsing jobs. You are in the midst of composing a cover letter. You are taking a slow sip of ice water, 2 minutes before your preliminary interview begins.
What are you actually looking for in this job hunt of yours? Perhaps you are looking for a positive work environment, financial stability, or the potential to make a dynamic difference in the global future. Whatever you seek, your answer resides in the information you will glean from doing your homework. Learn about the company at hand.
You know yourself well after all these years existing as a human in society. Now you must become well-versed in the facets of your prospective employer. You must draw relevant correlations to your own experience and envision how you will be an ideal fit. It’s one thing to share your knowledge of the company and it’s another thing to share of your own experience. What you really need to do is make the connection. How will the company ideally fit you?
Begin your quest by considering 2 questions that come up in most interviews:
- Why are YOU interested in OUR company?
- What would YOU contribute to OUR mission?
Grapple with these questions as you proceed to search, apply, and conversate. The process of knowledge transfer will give you the finest leverage for presenting yourself in the most desirable light. Seek to answer the above questions as you acquaint yourself with the company.
How do you effectively get to know a company? Do your homework.
Peruse their website with care.
Introduce yourself to current employees.
Research articles, media, and social media posts.
These days, the way a company expresses itself across the digital realm says a lot about how organized and how credible they are. They should certainly have a website. The website should be functional, easy to navigate, and provide plenty of useful information about the company. The website should be up-to-date as well. After all, the way they maintain their face on the internet could be a hint as to how they maintain their communications and relationships, both internally and externally. According to Purdue Global, it is recommended to read website sections such as “About Us”, “Meet Our Team”, and “Careers” (2024). In this way, you will get a sense of how the company has chosen to present themself to the world. After browsing, ask yourself if you really feel like you understand who they are.
Connecting to actual people who work at the company is another valuable way to learn. Reach out to at least 2 people who currently work there. Ask questions. Shannon Hodgen of Deel mentions in her piece, “How to Easily Research a Company for Interviews: 10 Steps”, that learning about a company’s team structure is crucial. She writes: “Reviewing current employees’ LinkedIn profiles can also give you a sense of the company’s internal mobility strategy by seeing when and if employees are promoted or change positions” (2023). Keep an eye out for any secondary connections you might have with the employees who work in the department to which you are applying. Request that your mutual connections make an introduction for you, or perhaps you’ll even just take a chance and reach out directly to company employees via LinkedIn messaging. Having a conversation with someone who is in the midst of working there will give you a window into the day-to-day experience. Do you like what you hear? Do the employees sound happy, content, and enthusiastic? Would you want to be in their shoes?
Along with swimming through the company website and splashing with some of its team members, you should also conduct research regarding what has been published about them. Explore articles, reviews about the company, and social media posts by them, as well as about them. How do they talk about themselves? How are they seen overall? What kinds of impacts have they made? Way Up published a post: “Top 10 Things You Should Look For In a Company”, that emphasizes, first and foremost, the necessary harmony between your own personal values and those of the company. Way Up explains: “Whether it’s finding a company with a model you admire or one that takes environmental action seriously and donates money to prevent global warming, you should feel that you and your potential employer stand for the same things and that you can build a lasting relationship” (2024). If you happen to notice something in your research that makes you question the integrity of the company, you might want to look more into that specific aspect. For example, if the company has been charged on several occasions with unethical practices regarding child labor laws, you might want to ask yourself how you would feel representing this company and such practices. Would you feel okay telling your friends and family that you personally contribute to the company’s standards or vices? Whether directly or indirectly, everything you do affects the world.
The bottom line is, do your homework. It will prep you for the exams ahead. It will help you decide if you want to move forward with the current selection. Such homework will steer you into enlightening conversations and will guide you in making the best decisions for your career life.
Don’t let the dog eat your homework.
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