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Research the Company Before your Interview - And Then Perhaps a Little More Before Accepting a Job Offer

If there is one thing you must do before a job interview, it is learn about the company and position. There are many sources of information about companies and industries. Here are some ideas to help you get started on this very important research.

Gather information from the Internet, your local Chamber of Commerce, and the company itself.
Contact the Public Relations and/or Marketing Department of the organization and ask for the most recent annual report and other company literature.
Use the library to research - look in newspapers, magazines, and other media.
Check electronic bulletin boards and online services
Read current periodicals and trade journals to learn about the latest trends in the industry.

For job descriptions, try looking in:

The Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Complete Guide for Occupational Exploration
The Dictionary of Occupational Titles.
Call or visit the Human Resources Department of the company and ask for a copy of their job descriptions. If you can't get it, you might ask competitors for similar job descriptions.

What to find out:

Know what salary range is usual for this type of position. Find out who the firm's competitors are.
How do they rank in the industry?
Who are their clients or customers?
Familiarize yourself with the employer's organizational structure. Read the company mission statement.
Know the full names of the President, CEO, CFO, etc.
Find out the locations of all operations or branches.
Familiarize yourself with the company's divisions, subsidiaries, products, services, and brand names.

The way you find information will vary with the company and industry - the important thing is to find it and remember it. You will use this information to make a great first impression in the interview.

If you don't have time, and want to make the most of this important step, retain our services and we will conduct the research for you.