Researching companies

One of the most common mistakes in an interview is to carry out insufficient research on those you are meeting with.

Taking the time to do a little more research will show you are serious about the job and make you stand out from all the other candidates.

Succeeding in an interview depends on many factors but by researching the right information you can give yourself the best chance of securing a role.

Having a general overview about the organisation will also give you confidence

Having a general overview about the organisation will also give you confidence during the first interview so that you can refer to your research when asking questions.

For example: "I saw from your latest press release that you are opening offices in Asia."

Rather than asking a basic question e.g. how many employees are in the company, which you could have found out yourself, the above question implies you have taken time and effort to prepare for the interview. The interviewer will take this as a sure sign that you're serious about the company, job and future career.

Don't forget to ask your consultant

Your recruitment consultant will have met the client and can provide you with specific job information before you attend interviews. They will also give details of the job location, skills and experience required, size of the firm and salary. Ask for company brochures and website addresses, allowing you to find out as much information as possible for your interview.

Find out what you're worth with the Robert Walters Salary Survey.

For more career advice, and information on how to switch careers, please contact:

Samantha Gravett, Manager
samantha.gravett@robertwalters.com
+27 (0)11 881 2471