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If only job-hunting was as simple as getting an interview, interviewing and getting hired. The fact is that the job hunt is a multi-layered process involving a potentially complicated interview process, especially in today’s Web 2.0 world. At the very least, there’s certainly more to nailing an interview than just wearing your smartest outfit and bringing extra copies of your resume. Today, we talk about some additional things to keep in mind to make sure yur interviews go your way.
Having a successful interview depends a lot on what you’ve done before the interview. As Bill Vick recommends on his blog, Employment Digest, “Do your homework.” His recommendation is primarily aimed at calming job-seekers’ nerves, but the advice is great for even the most confident interviewees. That homework should consist of “Visiting the company’s Web site, looking at its stock or calling the company and asking questions” (according to Vick). Knowing as much as you can about the company can help you perform well during the interview and, of course, can help you make a decision once an offer is made.
However, just as you do extra research on the company, they are likely to do some research on you beyond just the interview. Internet-wise recruiters and hiring managers will do plenty of research about a candidate before beginning the interview process. Online communities like MySpace and LinkedIn can provide a lot of information about a job-seeker, and sites like ZoomInfo focus even more on a candidate’s job-specific profile.
Obviously, having a negative presence in an online community can hurt your prospect, but a positive presence can help you in more ways than one. As a recent New York Post article suggests,
“Most [Web 2.0 communities] are set up in a way that creates a positive vibe about you, especially networks like LinkedIn, which encourages endorsements from colleagues. Done right, this sort of e-presence adds value to your ‘personal brand’ and reveals you in greater dimension than a traditional resume” (partially quoting Shally Steckerl).
Having a desirable skillset and personality are definitely great ways to help you get your dream job. However, being aware of online data and exposure can count for a lot, too. Maximizing your positive presence lets an interviewer know more about you than the standard interview questions. Similarly, actively researching the interviewing company can let you know a little about how to respond during the interview, what questions to ask the interviewer, and maybe even whether the company deserves to interview you.
I think it’s important to note that the higher you reach, the more you should be expected to know.
For example, with today’s technology and access to company information, no one should be applying for a management job (or selling to a c-level client) without knowing something about the press coverage for the last 6 months.
Thanks for the well-rounded article. I just want to add up to this subject - Never bring up questions that are already answered or covered on the company’s site. This would mean that you did not prepare for the interview and you are now wasting the employer’s time by asking those questions.