Friends, lock down 3.0 in India is still going on and you will be worried for job opportunities post lock down. For freshers, who will be searching job after their graduate examinations will be in more anxiety as placements are getting affected due to lock down. For those who were willing to change job due to no or less appraisals. Before attending interview, it is essential for us to research about potential employer.
The best thing which you will do is searching about company on internet. After this, check out sources from your real-world network to see who you know who can help give you an interview edge over the other candidates. Better research which you’ll make a much better impression on the hiring manager.
Company / Organization
Collecting background information about your potential employer is most important thing when it comes to job interview. Questions are asked by recruiters regarding what you know about that company.
Most importantly, what you need to know here is when the company founded, who was founder or current directors (MD or CEO). What are their primary products or services?
You can start doing the same by visiting the company website. On the website, you can find out pages such as history, vision and mission statement, their values or belief system, 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 there's a Press section of the website, read through the featured links there.
Using social media accounts
Social media is also next important thing during this research. Here, you must visit Facebook page, Instagram, and twitter, etc. You can also follow twitter accounts of MD or CEO of company to understand latest news about company. Social media research will give you a good sense of how the company wants its consumers to see it. Like or follow the company to get updates. You'll find some information you may not have found otherwise.
Facebook reviews will help you to understand what the people feel about culture and job satisfaction in that organization. If organization does not have well managed social media accounts, then we can understand that they are not serious about their public image.
Company Reviews on Internet
There are many such websites across the internet that provide you reviews about the company. However, Glassdoor is leader in this area. Glassdoor has database of 8+ million company reviews, leadership/management ratings, salary reports, job interview tips, employee benefits reports, and workplace insights all generated by “the people who know the company best”, the employees. Company reviews are also available on Google business pages but they are mostly about location. Indeed also has the company reviews on their website.
Searching for salary band
Currently most important tool to get understanding about salary structure or offers by the company is Linkedin Salary tool. This tool is part of premium subscription but yes it is effective to get understanding. You can search by company name, job title and location. Another important website to check salary band in India is Indeed. Just select the country and search designation. You will get salary as per designation.
Another website for checking salary structure is Paysa.com. Glassdoor also provides you such information on salaries.
Use of LinkedIn
Almost every company has its own page on LinkedIn. From LinkedIn, you can see your connections at the company, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics. Before attending interviews, if you have connections at the company, don't forget to talk with them personally over the call. This will help you to understand company culture, working, lifestyle at company, and most importantly about salary. They may also share their perspective on the company and give you tips that will help you ace the interview. You are already aware about HR person who called you for interview. You can check his profile on LinkedIn, their designation, and background. Look for any common links between you. Are you belonging to same area, group whether its online or offline, or school? Those common links could help you establish rapport during the interview process.
Checking out competitors
Who are their main competitors of this company in the marketplace? What major changes has the organization gone through in the last few years? Being up to date on the company will set you apart from a large percentage of other candidates.
Industry / field research
The next step after the basic research about company is research on area or field in which company is operating. e.g. If company is in automobile domain, research on facts and figures of automobile industry. Understand any regulatory changes or new laws which may hit this industry favorably or badly. In this segment, what is rank of company you are applying to? Is your potential employer leader in particular segment? What are current events happening in this industry and how will they affect the company your looking for? Are there any international situations that might influence the productivity or revenue of the organization? If you inquire about how a current situation might affect the organization, this shows a deeper level of understanding about the business.
Use Google and Google News Search both Google and Google News for the company name. This will provide you great amount of information. You may find out that the company is expanding into which territories, or whether they have got funding or they are raising some plant at location. This knowledge can help shape your responses to interview questions.
Researching financials
Financial stability of company is of utmost importance. Particularly in pandemic situations like COVID19, you must search this before appearing for interview. Best websites to search this data include Rediff Money and Moneycontrol. You can find out quarterly, half yearly and annual results; balance sheet, profit and loss, and cash flow statments, dividend, bonus, share holding, capital structures, and ratios. Latest price of share along with data of last 52 weeks is also available.
Board of Directors
Who is running your company? Who has share holding? Who is in board of directors? All this information is necessary to understand before interview. This information is available on Ministry of Corporate Affairs website. This information can be also retrieved from Zabuacorp Website.
Use of this research during interviews During a job interview, interviewers ask questions to get to know candidates. However, major objective of them is to investigate whether candidate is best fit to the position offered and the company culture.
Best research on company will make your answers to the questions compelling and indicate that you'll be helpful to their goals and bottom line. Additionally, your knowledge will help you give a specific answer if you're asked why you'd like to work for the company. While answering this question, you can share details about information you got about the company, its values and culture.
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