How To NOT Get A Job (5th in Series): Knowing Nothing About the Company

How To NOT Get A Job (5th in Series): Knowing Nothing About the Company
By Charlene Holsendorff

Imagine that you hear the phone ringing just as you step into your house from a harried day at work. Absently, you rush towards the phone and pick it up.

"Hello!" the overly perky voice on the other end says. "May I speak to Mr. Smith, please?"

You're momentarily baffled by the request. "There is no Mr. Smith," you dryly intone, as you pry those new heels from your tortured feet.

The caller doesn't seem to miss a beat. "OK," she chirps unabated. "This is WannaSellYouStuff Corporation, and you've been selected to receive a free subscription of "Muscles To Go" Magazine with the purchase of a year's supply of Testosterone supplements.

You can't hang the phone up quickly enough.

The reason for your irritation is justified: WannaSellYouStuff's derelict market research clearly showed that it knows nothing about YOU.

REALLY... YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING EITHER?

In two separate 2009 CareerBuilder surveys, 58 percent of Employers said that coming to the interview with no knowledge of the Company was a turnoff. It is, in fact, one of the top reasons for not getting the job.

Not knowing about the Company conveys a number of messages to the Employer, none of which is good:

� I'm shopping.

� I'm desperate.

� I don't particularly care where I land.

� Please take me.

Doing Company research gives you information. And as we all know knowledge is power. Being armed with Company information helps you better align yourself with the Employer's needs and expectations - and gives you an edge over the competition.

Doing Company research also gives you the opportunity to ask intelligent questions and provide supportive information towards getting the job. One client I know, by his thorough research of the company, said to the Employer, "This role interests me as it pertains to etc... etc... " and articulated how his skills fit with the mission/vision of the Company. It was no doubt a contributing factor towards his getting hired.

Following is a sampling of what you want to know about the Company in advance of your interview:

� When did it start?

� Where is corporate headquarters?

� What is the Leadership structure?

� What are the products/What does it do?

� Who is its target market?

� Who are its partners?

� Who are its competitors?

� What is the Company's corporate responsibility (to which you can align yourself)?

The first obvious resource for doing research is the Company website. Other resources include social media, annual and financial reports and publicity releases. Colleagues who work there are a good resource for getting a better understanding of the company culture. Additional reliable resources include:

� WetFeet.com

� Hoover's Online

� Forbes Lists of Best Companies

� LinkedIn

Knowledge Nugget: Just as researching clients gives corporations the ability to target sales presentations, knowing your potential Employer will help you target your "pitch" to them during the interview!

Request a complimentary Resume evaluation or Coaching information by emailing Charlene at: chrleneh@verizon.net

Check out Charlene's LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/charleneholsendorff

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