Like I said, do your homework on the company first and foremost. Google the company. Read any pertinent reviews or articles. Find the company's homepage and browse around to get a feel for the company's personality and attitude. Learn the names of the executives and other key players. If the opportunity arises during the interview, you will be loaded with information to impress the employer. However, if the company's basic 411 doesn't come up in conversation, don't start rambling on about how impressive their last year's revenue was and what an amazing CEO so and so is. It will just sound like you're saying, "Hi, I studied your website and memorized all the facts. See how prepared I am?" That only brings one word to my mind: ego. There's no room for that in job applicants—at least in my opinion.
Now, vacuuming up all the company's details into your head is not all you should be doing. Preparing other meaningful conversation starters and questions will also determine your make-or-break potential.
I hate it when job applicants just sit there, nod, and agree with everything I say. That's just playing it too safe. In addition to making you blend in with the sea of candidates, it also masks any hint of your personality, which will never help you...unless you're a complete jerk.
Think about the office's atmosphere and what suits you. Ask about the work environment and the group dynamic. Does everyone joke around and talk, or do they all escape into their own little worlds during the workday?
Ask questions about what your job would entail. Have the employer explain what types of projects and accounts you would be focusing on. Once he or she lays out a description of the job and what it involves, you can throw out all the ways in which you fit that job. It's really just a slick way to promote yourself.
For example, if an employer says you would be handling more clients in the healthcare industry, you can say something like, "Oh, that would be good because I interned at a company that primarily sold to healthcare buyers." Once the employer gives you the green light, you can just cruise into ways to tie yourself to the job. Just make sure what you tell them is true. Use what they tell you to tailor yourself and your experience to the position.
Don't be afraid to raise these types of issues and questions. It will communicate that you're interested in the job and eager to bring all you can to the mix. You won't be that annoying serial question-asker until you start asking redundant and irrelevant questions. But above all, know yourself, and know where you should draw the line with certain lines of questioning.
You can even call ahead to ask a current employee (who is not the interviewer) about his or her opinion of the company and his or her particular experience. A quick five-minute assessment of the job will suffice. The following questions are all good ones to ask:
- How long have you been with the company?
- How long do you envision yourself staying at this company?
- What is the work environment like?
- Do you feel you are fully compensated for the level and amount of work you do?
There is, however, one huge question that you should save until the end of the last interview: "What would my salary be, and when would I be eligible for a raise?" Although the answer to that question can make or break an opportunity, don't worry about salary concerns until they really matter. You don't want to come off as a money-grubber! In some cases, I would actually wait until the job is offered; that way, the employer is already in love with you, meaning he or she will be more willing to negotiate if need be.
