What does it really mean to be prepared for an interview?

What does it really mean to be prepared for an interview??

?Let’s start with what kind of information you want on your potential new employer.?

1. Know about their products and services -?what are the most successful products. Are there products that really interest you??
2. Who are the customers? What customers are they trying to attract into the business? What verticals does the firm operate in??
3. What are the challenges this business facing? If you are really clever, you can show how your skills and previous background and experience can help solve some of those oncoming challenges.?
4. If a company has some kind of retail or showroom presence (or e-commerce online shop), then walk through their showroom (or website), or walk into stores that sell the product.?How does this business present itself to the marketplace? How are are the products positioned in the market? Is there anything you notice in-store that is impressive or needs attention??
5. Competitors - Who is this business competing against? Is your new employer the market leader, a competitive major player or a me-too budget product???
6. What is the ownership structure??Is the business publicly listed, privately owned or VC?? This all has a big effect on the structure and the culture you will be working in.?
7. Who is working there now, and who has worked there previously?? Do you know anyone that can provide an unbiased point of view of what it is like to work there?? Does the company have high or low staff turnover? What is their EVP?? Evaluate it against what your interviewers tell you and what people who have worked there previously say.? Does this business share similar values to you??

The candidates that are the most prepared ALWAYS (and I do mean always) shine brighter than those who have not.?

Given the resources online and access to showrooms and shops it is unacceptable to not be well researched.? For example, I had one well prepared candidate enquire online with a potential employer and noticed how long it took for the company to respond.? He went to the interview to discuss the typical customer journey and buying habits. The company was days too late to respond to his online enquiry and noted that the average punter would have already bought a product by now (and it was unlikely to be this company, given the late response!) While this company had a B2B customer journey that was flawless, their consumer marketing required more work.? He then illustrated how he could fix those problems at interview – this is a winning way to research a company and show the value you can add.?

Just as your mum was nagging you as a child about doing your homework, so am I today.??

Do your homework!?