Do Your Homework Before Interviews

Before you head out the door to interview for a new job don't forget to do your homework about the company, the industry, and if possible, the folks with whom you will be interviewing. This seems like pretty obvious advice but you might be surprised at how many people forget to prepare thoroughly for interviews.

One of my clients had an interview with the Federal Reserve this week and she told me that she slipped up when she told her interviewer that Alan Greenspan is the current Fed Chairman. Oops. Greenspan, of course, retired a year ago and was replaced by Ben Bernanke as the Chairman of our central bank. If you don't happen to follow the Fed as closely as I do you can find that information on the Federal Reserve website. My client told me that she had simply forgotten to prepare for the interview. Mistakes like that can cost you a job.

Most companies have websites so just go to the company website and read the company overview and, if possible, any recent press releases. If the company is publicly traded you should know the stock price on the day of your interview and whether or not that price is trending up or down. To find information about a specific stock you can go to Bloomberg to find the current price and historical information.

Sometimes you can find background information on your interviewers. It's OK to ask your interviewer about his or her background but it can be helpful to know a little bit about them before you walk in the door. If I want to find information about a person I usually start with a Google search to see what I can find out. If I think that they may have written any books I also search Amazon. ZoomInfo and LinkedIn are also great places to find out about people and where they have worked, been educated, and whether or not they have written any notable articles.

Do your homework before you interview and you will impress the interviewer and you will improve your chances of getting hired. Interviewers are always impressed by candidates who are articulate and well prepared. On the other hand, many interviewers are underwhelmed by candidates who haven't bothered to learn about the company with which they are interviewing. It doesn't matter how impressive your credentials are - if you aren't prepared you could be overlooked.