Answer:
What you’ll need to do is find information about the company where you are interviewing. This can be done in a variety of ways. The Internet is probably the fastest way to find information. Many companies today have web sites and you can easily look them up (www.hoovers.com is a good source). You can also research companies in publications such as Inc., Fortune, Milwaukee Magazine, The Small Business Times, The Business Journal, Success Magazine, Fast Company, etc. You can also find out some of the basics via Standard & Poor's, Thomas Registry, Dun & Bradstreet, etc.
What to look for:
- Growth: Where were they? Where are they now? Where do they plan to be in the future? This encompasses a vast array of areas such as: employees (numbers, positions, levels), locations, revenue, and technology.
- Direction: What are their product lines? What have they done in the past? Where are they headed for the future? Are they up-to-date on industry trends or behind the times?
- Leadership: What do you know about the CEO? The senior management team? Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth says remember, "the fish stinks at the head." You want good, solid leadership that has the same value system as you. Articles in the above publications may indicate the value tendencies of the company’s leadership team.
- Problems: What problems, based on recent articles, has the company had to overcome? What may occur in the future? You want to know this information so you can be their new problem solver. You want to be able to say, "I can solve this for you, because I’ve done X in the past."
Sample Questions:
- I see your company has had some fast growth. Congratulations! What steps have you been taking to accommodate your growth?
- I recently read that your company is heading in a new direction to meet the technology of today. How will my position be affected?
- Is my position a new position? If so, where do you see its growth? Its goals? What would be the most immediate achievemnt you’d like to see in this role?
- I understand you landed the X account. That’s great! I’ve worked with X in the past. (Or, "We’ve used X in the past.") I can help your team work with X, the liaison.
- I was sorry to read about your trouble with X. When this happened in my company, we did X, and it really improved the situation. I’d like to be a part of the solutions team.
- Who is your best employee and why?
Wait until round two. Or, use an employment agency. They can get salary and benefits information for you prior to the interview.