Have You Done Your Homework?

Your homework, should you choose to accept it, is to use social networking to research organizations and the people you are meeting with for an interview. Just like you have an online presence, so do they. Whether you do your homework or not, most companies will do theirs. Social networking is here to stay, so why not use it to your advantage? Companies will check out your online presence. Turnabout is fair play. You should be checking out the organization and the people you will interview with.

If you are not clear about what I am saying, let me make it plain. Find out who will conduct the interview. Do a Google search on the hiring manager’s name. How about the HR recruiter and/or manager? This is not your opportunity to look for ammunition to use, it should be an informational fishing expedition. What kinds of things are they interested in doing? Hobbies? Who are they connected to? Who are you connected to that they are connected to? Find out.

Where to Conduct Your Research:

1. LinkedIn

2. Facebook

3. MySpace

4. Twitter

So, what do you do with the information you find out? Play it like an Ace? NOT! The purpose of your homework assignment is to give you information that will help you with small talk while waiting or during the interview. If you enjoy fishing or sewing and your interviewer has similar hobbies, you now have an access point to connect with them. Other key areas that will allow you to connect are colleges, previous employers, and people. You don’t want to tell them you checked them out necessarily. But you want to use your research to assist you throughout the hiring process.

Image Credit: Newscom

Tags: Interview Chatter, Homework, Research, Social Networking, Do a Google Search, HR Recruiter, Manager, Interview, Social Networking

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