Targeting a Company - A Quick Guide

A Quick GuideCore competencies

Keep your research simple and focused. Go to a company's web site and learn the basics, and as part of your homework, find out the firm's core competencies or the skill sets that they expect each new employee to have. If a firm's core competencies are 'ability to work in teams', 'results orientation', and 'analytical thinking', then chances are very high that the firm's interview questions will address those areas. More importantly, a firm's core competencies can have a large impact on their culture, so knowing them will help you decide if the work environment will be agreeable. Remember, company research is not just to help you do well in an interview; it also will help you decide if the firm is where you want to be.

How do they interview?

Aside from learning about a company through their web site, you could benefit from knowing how the firm interviews. Do they ask case questions? Are there multiple interview rounds? Does the firm use interview panels, or is each interview conducted with a one-on-one format? Finding this information beforehand can lower your stress level and make you a more relaxed candidate. Where you find this information requires a little creativity, but the best source is people you may know at the firm or friends who have gone through the interview process already. Armed with this information, your focus on the day of the interview will be much sharper, and your discussions will cover only the topics that matter most.

A little goes a long way

Once you've done all the necessary research on a firm, store it away in your memory for the actual interview. Use it in a limited fashion, or seamlessly mix it into with discussions about your work experience, your personality, and your goals. Think of your newfound company knowledge as a fail-safe cushion for questions such as 'Why do you want to work here?' and 'What is it about our firm that interests you?' A little company information goes a long way with these questions. Leave your doctoral thesis at home, and do not be afraid to express your ignorance on certain topics, because recruiters do look for a certain level of intellectual humility.

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