Why Knowing a Company’s Details Can Help Get You the Job

When preparing for a tech interview, you probably spend a lot of time thinking about anecdotes you can use to paint a picture of your experience. You probably also spend time practicing problem-solving exercises to demonstrate your technical skills. However, if you want to land the job, you should also focus on learning about the company and its products or services.

Position Yourself As an Informed Candidate

According to a study from Glassdoor, hiring managers struggle to find “informed candidates” who understand the company’s operations. Hiring managers know that candidates have a plethora of information at their fingertips, and they want people who take the time to learn as much as they can about the organization before an interview. In fact, 88 percent of the study participants said that an informed candidate is the best type of candidate.

Informed candidates are often hired faster and with fewer interviews than uninformed candidates. Furthermore, the study suggests that informed candidates are more productive, happier, more engaged and get along better with their teams; a win-win for both the new employee and the employer.

Why Informed Candidates Are Desirable

Why do hiring managers want informed candidates? First, candidates who take the time to research the organization, its products, its culture and more show natural curiosity and initiative. While the internet makes research much more simple than it was 15 years ago, it still takes time to collect and process that information. People who are willing to persist and find the necessary data will likely go above and beyond on the job, as well.

Taking the time to conduct thorough research also shows a level of interest in the job that others do not demonstrate. Candidates that have taken the time to study company operations show they have taken the time to think about what it would be like to work there and where they might fit into the bigger picture.

How To Be An Informed Candidate

If you’re ready to become an informed candidate, start by studying the company website. Look for blog posts, white papers or case studies related to the job you’re interviewing for. Next, study the company’s social media profiles including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Then, spend time researching stories in local business journals or tech journals to really round out your research.  The more you read up on the company, the more informed you’ll be.

You can also become an informed candidate by working with a professional tech recruiter. A recruiter will discuss a position with you in detail, and will provide you with important and relevant information about the organization and its products or services before any interview. They can help you focus additional research and they can let you know exactly what the hiring manager is looking for.

If you are a tech pro looking for new IT career opportunities, the professionals at Talon want to hear from you. Contact us today to get started.