Yahoo Finance 3 things to research before every job interview
Preparing for a job interview can be tough, but there are a few ways to make sure you blow your potential employer away.
According to job site Indeed, over half of all employers rate the types of questions potential candidates ask a top consideration in an interview.
And, the types of questions you ask largely depend on the research you do before the interview.
Yahoo Finance has compiled a list of three key things all job candidates must research before an interview from Indeed's career expert Jay Munro.
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1. The average salary
The absolute worst question you can ever ask in an interview is, “what’s the salary?”
Why?
“That could be a risk that the candidate might not stick around or might not be focused on actual productivity or being a top performer,” Munro said.
The salary is also, ideally, canvassed in a screening phone call, or it’s listed on the job ad.
“If you’re applying for the job and it’s got the salary listed on the job ad, then the employers have told you what it is, so you wouldn’t go through the entire process and then say at the last minute that you want more money."
So rather than bringing it up during the interview, research the average salary of that job, and even the salaries of seniors in your particular role so you know what you’re in for.
2. The company’s mission statement
A great way to show off your knowledge of the company is to research its mission statement.
“A good idea is to really think about the job and think about the company,” Munro said.
“What do they stand for? A lot of companies will have mission statements, which will say that, ‘we all try to do a great job,’ or, ‘we have fun,’ as well.”
Then, try and align the company’s mission statements with your answers to questions, he said.
3. The company culture
A whopping 61 per cent of all employers consider culture and fit as a top consideration when interviewing a job candidate.
A great way to figure out if you’re going to tick the employer’s boxes is to research their company culture, or reviews from previous employees on sites like Glassdoor.
It doesn’t mean you need to fit the bill exactly, either.
“You don’t just want to hire clones,” Munro said.
“It’s more culture-add – is this person going to add to or complement the existing culture?”
Researching company culture is two-fold - it can help you decide whether the company culture aligns with your values, too.
What else?
According to Indeed data, a good location is the second-highest priority for jobseekers.
“Find out how accessible the location is,” the company stated. “Will you need to spend money on car parking or are there good public transport options? Are there shops and other amenities nearby? Will you be based at the one location or across multiple sites?
“If these things matter to you then it’s best to do your research well before your interview.”
If flexible working arrangements are important for your lifestyle as well, it’s best to read up on the company’s policies around this are.
“See what you can find out about the employer’s position on flexible hours. They may have offered this information in the job description, or on their website and social media ,” Indeed stated.
You could even read up on the panel of interviewers, Indeed suggested.
“Don’t be afraid to ask who will be on the panel and what their roles in the organisation are. Knowing a bit more about your interviewers can help you to shape your responses to interview questions accordingly.”
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