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Know Thyself: and Then Forget What You Know
June 15, 2010 | Author: Allyn Horne | Filed under: Job Hunting
The peril of focusing on “me” rather than on the employer
Face it: in a bad economy (for that matter in any economy), the fact that you “need” a job does not translate into a winning value proposition. Not only that, but it’s also dour and depressing; that you need a job is your problem and in no way relates to why a firm is hiring.
So damper your sense of internal urgency—or at least shield it from your potential employer—and focus instead on uncovering the value an organization is seeking. Show that you understand the challenges and opportunities your potential employer faces to demonstrate your bona-fide interest, your critical thinking and creativity, and your approach to problem solving.
So what’s bugging your future employer? What do they need to move forward? Don your reseacher’s hat and find out. Explore:
- The role. Know what the job will entail, both from the job description and possibly from other professionals in similar roles.
- The department, its products, services, and responsibilities. Can you demo a product or read reviews of the service? What’s the market demographic, and does the winner’s list include marquee customers? What’s the competitive landscape? How does your prospective company’s value proposition compare?
- The company. Where’s the industry? Is it growing? Stable? Stale? Where is the company in its lifecycle? How does the company represent itself to investors in the annual report? Review the company’s press and news sections to view its public face.
- The perceptions, of the market, the media, analysts, naysayers. What’s the latest scoop? Who’s saying what in BusinessWeek, Fortune, Forbes, or the WSJ? What’s the outlook? What rumors are flying?
- The interviewer and key members of your prospective team, if known. It can’t hurt to run a few names through LinkedIn and Google to see what, if any, commonalities you might share. You might, for instance, discover that the interviewer attended your alma mater, or that you both hail from Connecticut—facts you could use to break the ice or exhibit warmth during the interview process.
The bottom line: the interview is about them, not you. So try to keep the focus on your prospective employer and how your skills and talents match the particular goings-on at that company.
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