When interviewing for a job, details matter. Diligent research and keen observational skills give job candidates a leg up.
Given recent layoffs in the tech industry and elsewhere, more job seekers are sending out resumes. Detail-oriented applicants race ahead of the pack by learning more about an employer, its culture and its workforce.
The most successful candidates identify an organization where they want to work and then build a dossier on it, says Ryan Sutton, executive director of technology at Robert Half, a recruiting company based in Menlo Park, Calif. They gather data on the company's history, salary ranges and online reviews from past and present employees.
To ace your job search and land a plum position, direct your efforts on collecting valuable insight and information. How do you focus on the details that matter most?
Solicit Input When Interviewing For A Job
Before you get in too deep with a potential employer, find out what workers think of it. Tap what Sutton calls "backdoor references"— people in your network who are familiar with the organization's inner workings.
"A company won't give you a list of employees for you to call to do your research," he said. "So you need to cross-reference your network to learn about the company culture."
Ask targeted questions such as, "What perks matter most to you — and what perks do you wish they offered?" and "What's the trajectory of your job satisfaction level since you started there? How has it changed over time?"
Look for mismatch clues. When pursuing a job, step back and confirm that you'll enjoy the day-to-day work. Look for signs that the organizational culture complements your personality and work habits. For example, a creative, outside-the-box thinker may chafe if the company strictly adheres to regulatory compliance procedures.
William Vanderbloemen, founder and chief executive of Houston-based Vanderbloemen Search Group, urges job hunters to ask themselves questions such as, "What kind of work gives me energy?" and "Do I know what this job is asking of me?" Use the interview process to gauge whether you're a good fit.
"The point of the interview is not to get the job," said Vanderbloemen, author of the forthcoming book "Be The Unicorn." "The point is to discover if who you are matches what the job is."
Probe Core Values
Many organizations post their core values and mission statement for all to see. Explore to what extent the company practices what it preaches.
"If the values are plain vanilla, find out more," Vanderbloemen said. You might say, "I'm excited to see 'integrity' as one of your core values. Tell me about a time when it was put to the test."
Unleash Your Observational Skills
In both in-person and video interviews, notice subtle details that give you a better sense of how employees behave and think. If you're on the premises, take every opportunity to wander around and watch how people interact. Even if you don't get to tour the facility, be observant in the hallway and elevator as you go to and from your interview.
On video meetings, detect nonverbal cues such as interviewers who frown or sever eye contact when you pose tough questions.
Ensure Employers Follow Up When Interviewing For A Job
Pay attention when a hiring manager promises to follow up. If someone makes a commitment ("I'll send you that form by Friday"), monitor the results.
"Responsiveness is one of the behavioral characteristics or habits that's a key to excellence," Vanderbloemen said. So if interviewers say they'll get back to you or take action in the near future, track whether they do what they said they'd do within the time frame they gave.
