The balance of power during job interviews changed with the widespread use of the networking sites like LinkedIn, Plaxo, MySpace, and FaceBook. These sites provide a highly visible place for individuals to create profiles and selectively disclose elements of their life. Companies search these sites to prescreen applicants even before inviting them for interviews. The resume and cover letter are no longer the only data sources used by companies when deciding on job applicants. Many articles stress the importance of candidates managing their online profiles in this world of online transparency.
But the sword of Internet transparency cuts from both sides of the blade. Interviewers often have online profiles that candidates can search to learn about interviewers before walking through the interview door. This job search environment is unique from previous recessions because both interviewers and applicants have equal access to information about individuals and organizations.
The Internet provides tools that job applicants can use to research companies and people. Business-oriented social networks like LinkedIn provide job seekers with tools to see through organizational walls and learn valuable company-specific data that can provide real value throughout the interviewing cycle. Hoovers.com, ZoomInfo.com and High Beam.com give job seekers easy access to publicly available company and individual information from multiple news sources. Pubic companies must disclose much more data than private companies due to investment and securities laws. Individuals can access a company's quarterly and annual reports to learn valuable details that help prepare for job interviews.
Private companies can also be researched through their press releases, professional associations and the annual reports of competitors. Before your next interview try the following to enhance your knowledge of the company and the interviewers:
Public Companies Download the company's annual 10-K report (from their web site) and read "Risk Factors". This shows you what company leaders feel are their top business risks. Knowing these issues can help you ask informed questions during interviews.
Private Companies Read company press releases from their web site and their competitors. Read 10-K report from publicly traded competitors.
Interviewer Data Search interviewer data on LinkedIn.com, Hoovers.com, ZoomInfo.com and HighBeam.com. Use the company and interviewer information to create compelling and business focused questions that you will ask of your interviewers. This is an outstanding way to differentiate yourself from your competition and secure a great job offer.
But the sword of Internet transparency cuts from both sides of the blade. Interviewers often have online profiles that candidates can search to learn about interviewers before walking through the interview door. This job search environment is unique from previous recessions because both interviewers and applicants have equal access to information about individuals and organizations.
The Internet provides tools that job applicants can use to research companies and people. Business-oriented social networks like LinkedIn provide job seekers with tools to see through organizational walls and learn valuable company-specific data that can provide real value throughout the interviewing cycle. Hoovers.com, ZoomInfo.com and High Beam.com give job seekers easy access to publicly available company and individual information from multiple news sources. Pubic companies must disclose much more data than private companies due to investment and securities laws. Individuals can access a company's quarterly and annual reports to learn valuable details that help prepare for job interviews.
Private companies can also be researched through their press releases, professional associations and the annual reports of competitors. Before your next interview try the following to enhance your knowledge of the company and the interviewers:
Public Companies Download the company's annual 10-K report (from their web site) and read "Risk Factors". This shows you what company leaders feel are their top business risks. Knowing these issues can help you ask informed questions during interviews.
Private Companies Read company press releases from their web site and their competitors. Read 10-K report from publicly traded competitors.
Interviewer Data Search interviewer data on LinkedIn.com, Hoovers.com, ZoomInfo.com and HighBeam.com. Use the company and interviewer information to create compelling and business focused questions that you will ask of your interviewers. This is an outstanding way to differentiate yourself from your competition and secure a great job offer.
Michael is President, CEO and author of Interview Mastery, the most widely used job interview software in the world. Interview Mastery program is used by job seekers in 70+ countries. Partners have included largest career portals in the world including, CareerBuilder and Monster.com. Michael is also the former Interview Master for Monster.com. As a former VP and Director of Recruiting at several Fortune 50 companies and a former headhunter, he has seen what it takes to succeed from every side of the interviewing game. Michael also trains corporate interviewers at every level to improve their interviewing process and skills.
Michael is also Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of PongoResume.com, the Internets most widely used online resume and cover letter-building resource that provides a suite of tools to help job seekers market and manage their career. Today, over 4.5 million registered users in 200 countries use PongoResume.com. Throughout his career, Michael has held executive roles for several Fortune 50 companies including Hewlett Packard, International Data Group (IDG) and Fidelity Investments. He consults to many corporations (large and small) that include Thermo Scientific, Computer Associates, Lucent Technologies, Nortel Networks, Forrester Research, Lockheed Martin, and General Electric. He was also the former Interview Master at Monster.com.
Neece is a regular contributor on television, radio, and in major newspapers including NBC, Fox News, Financial Times of London, The Wall Street Journal and many other online publications including MSNBC. He speaks and writes to journalistic, corporate and academic audiences. In addition to holding a Masters in Engineering from Boston University and BS in Physics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, he is the proud father of three children, an instrument rated private pilot, and recently learned to fly seaplanes.
Michael is also Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of PongoResume.com, the Internets most widely used online resume and cover letter-building resource that provides a suite of tools to help job seekers market and manage their career. Today, over 4.5 million registered users in 200 countries use PongoResume.com. Throughout his career, Michael has held executive roles for several Fortune 50 companies including Hewlett Packard, International Data Group (IDG) and Fidelity Investments. He consults to many corporations (large and small) that include Thermo Scientific, Computer Associates, Lucent Technologies, Nortel Networks, Forrester Research, Lockheed Martin, and General Electric. He was also the former Interview Master at Monster.com.
Neece is a regular contributor on television, radio, and in major newspapers including NBC, Fox News, Financial Times of London, The Wall Street Journal and many other online publications including MSNBC. He speaks and writes to journalistic, corporate and academic audiences. In addition to holding a Masters in Engineering from Boston University and BS in Physics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, he is the proud father of three children, an instrument rated private pilot, and recently learned to fly seaplanes.
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