Have You Tried to Know the Inside Out of the Company?

When you ask the administrative assistant what it is like to work for the company, he or she might give you an earful of suggestions and opinions. I once asked an administrative assistant this question and she said that the company was "O.K., but they kind of work you to death!" She laughed but that didn't hide her sincerity. Then she continued, "Don't get me wrong. I love working here but you better be willing to put in a lot of overtime. That job, in particular, is a real pressure cooker."

Even if the administrative assistant is reluctant, or downright unwilling, to answer these and other questions, there are still more ways of getting useful information about the company. The public library can give you historical and financial information and other pertinent factors regarding such things as the founding of the company, its philosophy, and its general track record. The Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, The New York Times, among others, are excellent sources for information about companies.

Finally, there is no substitute for talking with a friend, or an acquaintance, who works for the organization. While this might be a rare opportunity at best, and will occur only occasionally, it can be worth its weight in gold. More specifically, a friend can counsel you on advantages and disadvantages, suggest approaches, tell you who and what to avoid, and even when it might be best to make the initial contact with the company.



The message should be clear. The more you know about the organization, the better prepared you will be for the interview and the greater chance you will have of getting the job. It will give you the edge that can make the difference. If the interviewer asks you if you want to join a corporation in order to get ahead (move from promotion to promotion), you will have a better idea of whether to say yes or no. If the interviewer asks you whether you consider yourself a "team player or an individualist," you can answer more effectively if you know the type of person he or she is looking for. Or, if the interviewer asks you about your background (i.e. "Why did you decide to become an accounting major?"), you will be able to answer best if you have done your homework.

Curiously, only a small portion of candidates that I have interviewed over the years have bothered to research the organization I was representing. One classic example was the gentleman I was interviewing a few years ago. The position I was trying to fill was a vice-president of operations for a company deeply involved in a "Management by Objectives" (M.B.O.) program which centered on high accountability and control. Presumably, anyone applying for this position, at this level, would at least be familiar with the system.

When I asked the man what he knew about the process he answered, "I've seen your signs."

"What?" I asked.

"I've seen your signs everywhere."

At this point I should explain that the initials of the company were M.O.S.

"No," I explained, "I'm afraid you misunderstood my question. What I wanted to know was what do you think of Management by Objectives as a system?"

"Well," he answered nervously, "I really like it."

"Why?" I pressed.

"It helps you... ah... understand the marketplace."

"Thank you," I responded, and I abruptly dismissed the man. As you might or might not know, M.B.O. has little to do with the "the marketplace" as he put it. So the candidate eliminated himself because he didn't understand what the company was doing. If he had done his background research, he would have been able to answer the question easily. Every person in the company, including the receptionist, was keenly aware of the impact of the program on the organization. A simple question to her would have given him the edge he needed.

In an extreme situation in which you cannot find anything in the library, or the company won't divulge anything about itself, it might still be possible to go to the offices of the organization and look at their operation from the inside or outside.

Even the exterior of the building can give you clues about its conservative or liberal posture. For instance, a slick glass and steel building with modern furniture suggests a more dynamic, risk-taking philosophy, whereas a stately brick and wooden structure may demonstrate a more careful approach to business. It is no accident that the most creative, high-tech organizations look like the work they do; modern architecture, sculptured furniture, and plastic surfaces. Then, there is the bank in the major southern city that has its headquarters in a renovated, 19th century, downtown landmark. It has also been decorated in 19th century furnishings. The bank, as you might guess, is very conservative and very slow to react to any situation.