Page 72 - John Kador - 201 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview-McGraw-Hill (2002)

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

about the company and the industry in which it operates. These publi-
cations provide much more focus and detail than general business pub-
lications. In the past, trade publications were often difficult to obtain.
But now many of them are online, making it much easier than ever to re-
trieve very focused articles on the company you are interested in.

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS
America is a nation of joiners. It seems that every activity has formed an
association to promote its interests. These associations exist in large part
to educate the public about the good works of the members of the associ-
ation. You are member of the public, so don’t be shy about asking for help.
Many associations now have Web sites, and the depth of their resources
can be stunning. A powerful reference, found in most libraries, is the En-
cyclopedia of Associations, a directory of associations with contact in-
formation. Some associations require membership to access specific
resources, but even then a nice letter to the executive director can often get
you privileges to surf the site without cost.

WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD I COLLECT?
Before going into a job interview, a well-prepared candidate will have
the following information about the organization:
Full name of company
Contact Information
Mailing address
Telephone numbers, central, and general fax number
Web site
General email address

Brief description of business (25 words or so)

Public or private
Year established
Revenues or sales
Rank on Fortune 1000 (if applicable)
Number of employees

47