Walking into an interview prepared and ready is the best way to set yourself up for success. Today, all applicants are expected to know certain things about the company and position they are applying for before they walk in the door but it is the additional knowledge that sets an applicant apart from the pack. The best way to prepare is to thoroughly research the company, position and interviewers. Here are our tips for conducting your pre-interview research:

Company Website: 

The first stop when conducting your research should always be the company website in order to make sure you have the most accurate and up to date information. The company website includes information interviewers will expect all applicants to be familiar with. Make sure to check the following website pages below:

• About Us- Look here for basic information about what the company does, where they are located, how they started, etc.
• Mission- This gives insight into how the company conducts their business, their values and their “WHY”.  Watch any video testimonials from employees about what it’s like to work there.
• Careers Page- Look at all of the information provided here for prospective employees, including job descriptions, benefits, culture, etc.
• News – Read the recent press releases the company has issued, this will include any big company news that could be relevant to the interview and position.  If the company is publicly traded review the letter to the shareholders, annual and quarterly reports.

News Stories:

After checking the company news page on the website, also do an internet search for recent news stories about the company. If the company has any big changes such as acquisition, merger, new products, recent awards or achievements you will want to know about them. These are great talking points to base questions around during your interview and this will show the interviewer that you are prepared and engaged.  Also, as a prospective employee this will give you extra information to make an educated decision if you should be offered the job.

LinkedIn:

Next get to work on LinkedIn. First find the company page and read any information available. Also conduct a content search on LinkedIn with the company name to see what posts come up. This will typically be a way to find posts about the company written by their employees to give you a unique look at individual employee experiences. Follow up with a search for your interviewers as well as employees with positions similar to the one you are applying for and connect.

Talk with Employees:

After connecting with company employees on LinkedIn, you can reach out to several and ask if they are willing to talk to you about the company and position. If you get a chance to talk to a current employee they can provide a different type of insight; telling you more about their experience with the company, what their interviews were like and what their responsibilities are if they are in a position similar to the one you are applying for. Working into the interview conversation that you reached out to current employees will also show your interviewer your interest and initiative.

Check for Interview data: 

Today there are many websites dedicated to sharing interview data. Users on these sites share their interview experiences, salary range and current or past employees share reviews. Typically, in the interview section users will share the information on interview rounds and specific questions they were asked. While this may not cover all questions, you could be asked it is great practice to develop your answers to these questions. Check multiple sites to see if there are different examples and information on each.

Website examples are: Glassdoor, Indeed, Monster. 

Recruiter:

If you are working with a recruiter, look to them as a resource. They often have experience working with the company you are interviewing for as well as their current employees. They are a great source for knowledge because they are familiar with the company culture, hiring manager and have often placed other employees at the company. PharmaOut recruiters have first-hand experience working in the industry and have placed many candidates in a variety of roles. We have a deep understanding of the position we are recruiting on and make sure our candidates are well prepared.

From your initial phone screen, in-person interview and even after you have accepted a position, PharmaOut is with you every step of the way.

Check out all of our current openings and apply here. If you would like to speak to one of our recruiters please email info@pharmaout.com 

Uncategorized