Do Your Homework Before the Big Interview

By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer 

 

Once upon a time, a job seeker landed an interview, skimmed the prospective employer's annual report, wowed the hiring manager with a few company facts and strolled into his dream job.
That late-'90s fairy tale rarely comes true these days. With employers in more control of the labor market, candidates feel compelled to give it their all in their interview preparation. And that includes mounting a broad, deep search for relevant information about the position, the company, the industry and even the interviewer.
Luckily for you, diverse resources, many of them free or cheap and available on the Internet, enable you to achieve that competitive edge if you're willing to put your nose to the grindstone -- or computer monitor.

Employers' Web Sites

Your prospective employer's corporate Web site is the best place to see the company as it wants to be seen. Do check out that annual report, but also look for a "press room" or "company news" page that links to recent news releases. As you mull all this information, consider how the open position, as detailed in the job posting, relates to the company's mission.
But don't stop there. Use the company site's search facility to query the names of the hiring manager and any others on your interview dance card. You may retrieve bio pages or press releases that give you insight into their most visible activities at the company. "Learning about the interviewer is probably the most valuable thing you can do," says Ron Fry, author of 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions.

Research Employers

Next, get some vital statistics and independent perspectives on your prospective employer. Hoover's Online, for one, provides capsule descriptions, financial data and a list of competitors for thousands of large corporations.
Your 401k or mutual fund account with a major broker likely provides more detailed research on publicly traded companies and industries, free of charge. "You may be able to go to competitors for the prospective employer's financials," says Joyce Lain Kennedy, Los Angeles Times career columnist and author of Job Interviews for Dummies.

News Sources

Now broaden your perspective and see what general-interest and business publications and Web sites are writing about the employer and its industry. You can find a wide range of media outlets at NewsLink, notes Kennedy. Search national publications for news on major corporations; use hometown newspapers to learn about small businesses and how big businesses interact with their local communities. Refdesk and bizjournals.com also offer gateways to journalism on companies and industries.

Trade Journals

Taking cues from your research so far, drill down into your target company and its place in the industry by looking at trade journals and other specialized publications. "Get a few months of the relevant trade journal," advises Fry. "You're going to find out about new products and what the trade is saying about the company."
You may find hard copies of trade journals at university or public libraries. Some journals are available for free or by subscription through their own Web sites; the full text of thousands more is available through periodical databases like ProQuest and InfoTrac. You may even be able to access InfoTrac for free via the Web, using just the membership number on your public library card. Contact your local library for details.

Industry Directories

By now, you've probably got some very specific questions regarding the employer and your potential role there. Go directly to the grapevine by making contact with other workers at your target company or elsewhere in the industry. "If you belong to a professional organization, go to its directory," says Marilyn Pincus, author of Interview Strategies that Lead to Job Offers. If you don't belong, consider joining; check out the American Society of Association Executives' Gateway to Associations Directory.
Of course, you can also use networking services to get in touch with people inside the company.

Google

Finally, if you hope to have a company ogling you, try Googling them first. You just might come up with a nugget you would have missed otherwise.
While you're at it, Google yourself to make sure you and the interviewer are on the same page. Because if he's savvy, he's doing unto you as you've just done unto him and his company.

 Very nice note published to David Vaught's LinkedIn page today we wanted to share with our clients and candidates: 

The Thank You Letter: A Lost Art

Once upon a time, the primary form of communication was the written letter. People took pride in using correct grammar and spelling. It is becoming a lost art (my writing here is probably full of errors thus proving my point). However, the thank you letter is a very important part of the interview and hiring process. It reveals many things about the candidate. The absence of one is usually the end of the road for that candidate. So, in the electronic age, how do we successfully pen a great letter.
Here are some basics. First have electronic personal stationary. Anyone that can surf Facebook has the skills to do it. Write your letter as if they will print it off and place it in a file. Start with the person's company and address. Name and title. Finally the date. You would be shocked at the number of letters I see that are not set up that way. Begin your letter that should be three paragraphs. A paragraph is defined as a minimum of two sentences.
Start off with thanking them for their time etc. The second paragraph is the meat of the letter. You may want to highlight one great thing you have done to solidify that in their mind. This might be a great time to handle that one objection they had about you on the interview. Finally, the final paragraph tells them you want the opportunity and you look forward to moving forward in the process.
Attach the letter to an e-mail.....not in the body of an e-mail.
Just my abbreviated thoughts on the thank you letter. See, it pays to go to English class in school!!

The month of May marks the Bales Company’s 37th Anniversary!
We take pride in having contributed many of the talented people who have fueled the technological innovation, sales growth, market penetration, and financial success in Medical Products, Devices, and Capital Equipment. We have had great success in putting together the first teams for successful Start Up and Early Emerging companies in the industry, and would like to like to extend our gratitude to all of our clients who have made another anniversary possible!

Kind Regards,
Sally Bales
President CEO
The Bales Company
904.398.9080 ext.208
sbales@balescompany.com
www.balescompany.com

Measles Virus as a Cancer Fighter - Mayo Clinic

Published on May 14, 2014

A medical first -- a woman with an incurable form of cancer has had all signs of living cancer cells eradicated from her body for at least 6 months. What's more, it was accomplished in a single treatment. And the magic potion -- was the measles virus.