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Pre-Interview Web Research

Pre-Interview Web Research

You have obtained an interview -- congratulations! You feel prepared to discuss your strengths, your accomplishments, your willingness to work hard and learn quickly, and your ability to fit seamlessly into the employer's needs. But... you don't know anything about the employer. You may not even be sure what kind of industry they are in. Do some quick homework before your interview and you may glean a basic understanding of their business that can set you apart from other candidates.

In the "old days" you would have needed to visit a library to try to find the employer in a Business Directory or Manufacturers' Guide. Now you can use the Internet to investigate. If you are lucky, and find that they have their own website, explore it completely, like a search engine spider, page by page and link by link. It will provide you with genuine insight into their organization, their accomplishments, and their values. Try to identify what kind of problems and challenges they may be facing which you could address in an interview. If the company does not have a website, Google them and see if they show up on another site.

If you know their product or service (if you don't, anonymously call the receptionist and just ask what the company does) search for their name within similar sites. If you cannot find the company anywhere, or can't find any helpful details, look at the industry they are in and see what is currently a hot topic and what predictions for future change are being discussed.

All such information will be immensely valuable in your interview either to demonstrate your ability to solve problems or, at the very least, allow you to ask intelligent, pertinent questions.

Virginia Bola operated a rehabilitation company for 20 years, developing innovative job search techniques for disabled workers, while serving as a Vocational Expert in Administrative, Civil and Workers' Compensation Courts. Author of an interactive and supportive workbook, The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a monthly ezine, The Worker's Edge, she can be reached at http://www.unemploymentblues.com or http://layoffblues.blogspot.com

In The News:

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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.weehawkenreporter.com/pages/home_top_section/push%3Farticle--B-Scared-about-your-job-prospects-B-BR-%2520%26link%3Dpush::target_page%26id%3D732662--B-Scared-about-your-job-prospects-B-BR-%26instance%3Dup_to_the_minute%2520lead_story_left_columncid=1276957067ei=8ck1SaC7J5jMMoWwsSMusg=AFQjCNHcwt-3WJkUvitofCUUTBxe8nl_EwScared about your job prospects?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWeehawken Reporter,nbsp;NJnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1They say you will “learn how to save your job, conduct a successful job search, or change bcareers/b! Ethan Chazin, professional bcareer/b coach and bemployment/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.jobjournal.com/thisweek.asp%3Fartid%3D2523cid=0ei=8ck1SaC7J5jMMoWwsSMusg=AFQjCNGii4XAAeZ2M9lC4duLKBicVM00GANonprofit bCareer/b Paths/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCalifornia Job Journal,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobrDec 1, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Commongood bCareers/b Today’s nonprofit sector is growing faster than ever. In fact, Independent Sector.org reports that nonprofit bemployment/b has doubled to b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

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Pre-Interview Web Research

Careers, Jobs & Employment