Early in my job search I had a very strange experience. It was sort of an interview ..... No, well to be honest, I would not call it an interview because I never really got any solid information about the company or the advertised position. As a matter of fact, when I asked a couple of questions about the job, the interviewer authoritatively responded, "I ask the questions." At that moment, there was no doubt, I was in the wrong place.
Yes, we have all heard that in order to make a favorable impression during an interview we should research a company beforehand. However, there is another reason to research a company, which is rarely discussed. Research can help job hunters decide if a company or job is a good fit for them. A bit of research can be helpful in preventing a job seeker from wasting time, gas and money on dead end interviews.
Do not get so excited about landing an interview until you neglect to do your best to check-out the company. This is especially true when it comes to lesser known companies advertising on job boards. Below are a few steps that I should have followed had I known at the time that unusual job opportunities come in many forms and not just the email variety.
1. Look at the company's website -- If there is no website or if the website is under construction, incomplete and/or filled with typos and dead links this may be a bad sign. If the company's name is vague or very similar to another company's name making it difficult to locate the correct website then call the company and ask for their URL.
2. If there is a website check it for information on the company's officers and staff as well as a list of current and past customers or clients. Make sure that you are not thrown-off by a list of industries. Check the site for the company's physical address and a phone number. If the company has offices across the county check the address in your area and make sure that it is the same address and phone number that you were given. Search the site for testimonials, news releases, and a history of the company.
3. Look for the company and members of the staff on LinkedIn, FaceBook and Twitter most companies are on at least one or more of these social networking sites. If the company has a paid LinkedIn account and you can't see the information ask one of your contacts with a paid account to look up the company for you.
4. You may also want to run the company's name through the rip-off report at http://www.ripoffreport.com/ I cannot guarantee that The Rip-off Report has posts on every rip-off out there but it is a pretty decent place to start. Another place to check is The Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org/online/.
There are also a few things that you might want to pay attention to once you arrive for your interview.
5. When you arrive at the location, check for the company's name in places where a company's name can usually be found such as in the building directory, the front door, a sign or lettering in the lobby of their offices. This is especially true when it comes to a marketing firm. It is rare to find a marketing company that fails to market themselves and their brand.
6. Notice the furnishings are there folding chairs, does the furniture look mix-matched with old pieces mixed with new pieces and expensive items mixed with cheaper ones? Do the walls look as if they could use a coat of paint? Notice if there are several offices but only a few appear to be occupied.
6. When you enter the office look around and note if there are already a three, four or more other applicants either filling out applications or waiting to be interviewed. Also this may seem strange, but note if there is a radio playing loud music nearby.
You will be more likely to find a job that's right for you if you do your research and pay attention to the details.
For more information, check-out this forum titled, This Job is a Scam The posts are dated, but the information may be relevant to your job search.
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