3 Websites that Give You an Advantage During Interview Preparation

It is a tough job market out there. Things have definitely been getting better, but those looking for a new job will still find that employers are pickier and more demanding than ever. Fortunately, these days, thanks to the internet, there are more ways to get ahead. Below are 5 key preparation tips when preparing for a job interview.

1. Glassdoor.com: If you’ve never checked out this site and you are looking for a job, it might be time to get on it. This site lists thousands of employers along with reviews, interviews, and salaries. People anonymously enter the information so it might not all be correct, but the reviews and interviews are usually pretty insightful. The great thing is that people will talk about their interview experience and sometimes even write down a few questions that they were asked. Use this site for the following:

1. Confirm that the salary is in the range you want. Salaries may not be 100% correct, but if multiple people provide information, then you can get a pretty good estimate.
2. Read the reviews on the company. This will tell you whether or not people like working there. Even though you may be looking for a new job, you don’t want to jump to another company only to find that you dislike it. Be aware that the reviews may be a little biased since those who are unhappy are more likely to complain about something versus those that are happy.
3. Finally, use this for interview prep. Many people who have interviewed with the company will post their experience. The great thing is, you can not only get additional questions that you may be asked, but you can sometimes get insight into what the company is looking for based on people’s reviews. Read over interviews for other positions in the company since it can also give you a better idea of the questions and expectations of people in the company.

2. LinkedIn.com: For those of you who are not yet on LinkedIn, make sure you sign up now. This is a great resource for researching companies, finding out about new jobs, connecting with recruiters, and just learning more about your interviewers. On LinkedIn, you will find profiles of almost everyone. One of the best things about LinkedIn is the ability to see whether or not you are connected to people at a certain company. If you want to increase your chances of getting an interview, ask that your resume be passed internally through someone in the company. Internal referrals are always given more consideration than external submissions such as sending it in via the company’s job platform. Finally, if you already have an interview and you know who the person is, do the following:

1. Read that person’s work history to understand their background and the things they are strong in. For example, if they have a strong finance background, make sure you are well versed in any analytical questions required for your job.
2. Read any recommendations they may have to get a possible glimpse about their personality and how you should interact with them on your interview.
3. See if you know anyone in common. If you and the interviewer know the same person, contact that person who knows the interviewer to see if you can get additional insights about them, their working style, and their preferences. Knowing this information will definitely help you be more prepared.

3. Company website: This last tip may seem obvious. Of course everyone checks out the company’s website before preparing for the interview. However, are you looking at the right areas? Also, are you looking at the additional websites that the company owns? Here are a few key areas that you should look through when reading through the company website:

1. Press releases: Read through the company’s press releases to see if there have been any new products, services or initiatives from the company. The press releases will show you what the company has been focusing on. Even if it is not an area where you are interviewing for, you can always ask a question about the company’s overall goals to demonstrate your interest.
2. Annual Report: The company’s annual report is a great place to get an overview of the company’s products, services, competitors, and goals. Sometimes, reading this provides great insight into the company’s activities.
3. Company blog: These days, a lot more companies have created a blog to talk about their initiatives. Read through the blog to get additional details about the company’s products, services, and initiatives.
4. Twitter or Facebook Pages: Many companies have started to have their own Twitter accounts or even Facebook Pages. These are great resources that demonstrate the company’s marketing initiatives and what they are trying to communicate to their customers. Understanding a company’s response to questions and the information they are sending out via Twitter will help you glean additional info that may help you in your preparation.

A job interview is always tough. Being as prepared as possible is the best way to ace the interview. I know some of you may be looking for other tips on job interviews. If so, email me or post it in the forums and I’ll answer your questions there.