Part of nailing a job interview is doing as much research as you can about the company you’re applying to. This helps you find answers to questions you might have about working there and makes it easier to build rapport with the hiring manager.
Prepping for a successful interview takes more than just looking at the company’s “About Us” page. You also want to look at the industry the company is in to keep track of industry news, competitors, and the who’s who of the local scene.
Doing your homework this way shows the interviewer you know what you’re talking about, even if your resume doesn’t necessarily speak of any substantial industry experience.
Of course, you can’t just blurt out random industry facts in the middle of an interview. Instead, prepare for the most common interview questions and weave your industry knowledge into your answers naturally.
Below are a few examples of interview questions you can prepare for.
“Can you tell me about yourself?”
This may seem like a basic question, but you’d be surprised by just how many job seekers fail to prepare for it. The trick is simple: don’t rattle off your complete employment history or life story. Instead, deliver a quick elevator pitch that sums up why you would be a contextual fit with the job, the company and the industry.
Talk about industry developments that caught your interest and why you think it could impact your career positively.
“Why are you interested in our company?”
You can answer this question by talking about how you’re interested in the company’s streak of innovation and creativity relative to other players in the industry. You also want to talk about how the company has successfully kept pace with rapid industry developments, with this being the reason for your interest in the firm.
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
If you already have experience in the industry, it shouldn’t be too much trouble getting this question out of the way. Be sure to talk about your years of experience in the industry and the kind of opportunities you’ve had access to that have helped develop your skill set.
If your previous work experience is not in the industry you’re applying to, point this out as a weakness but be sure to mention that you’ve spent a lot of time reading about the industry, highlighting a specific example of a trend or development that caught your interest.
Here’s the bottom line: research and preparation will be your primary weapons to demonstrate your industry knowledge in an interview. For more job search guidance and insights, talk to the staffing services specialists of The Reserves Network. Call our offices to learn more about our job search solutions.
