Do Your Homework!

Interviewing for an internship or job can be an exhausting matter but something that will eliminate yourself from contention is lack of preparation and research on the organization you are interviewing with. Nothing turns off a hiring manager more then someone who has never taken time to visit the company's web-site or doesn't know anything about the company.

During my experience as an undergraduate at Otterbein College, there were times I interviewed for various internships. During these interviews and after I got the opportunity to intern at a couple of places, many of the hiring managers I came across typically had more then just a couple of stories of people interviewing for a position or internship and not knowing anything about the company. For example, there was one interview I had at a radio station in which the hiring manager mentioned I was the only candidate all day who actually could name the morning show hosts! These people who interviewed before me could have found out this information simply by going to the station's web-site and it only would have taken them about five minutes to do so! This was not the first or last time I had heard a hiring manager mention stories of candidates not knowing anything about the company to which they were interviewing to be apart of.

Taking time to research the company does take lots of time but will pay off in the end. It will show your interest in the position, the company and drive to learn more about the position or internship you are applying for. Below are some tips on researching a company before you go into that interview:

1) Visit The Company's Web-Site- Taking some time to go through the web-site will help you find information on the history of the company, what they sell, and sometimes even provides information on the people who work there. Take time to visit the web-site, go through it and understand what the company is all about.

2) Use LinkedIn To Find Information On The Company- Not all companies are on LinkedIn but most of them are starting to become more familiar and comfortable with the tool. Sometimes you can look up people who work at the company, get additional information on their products or services or even find information on the hiring manager.

3) If You Can't Find What You Need Online, Don't Be Afraid To Call The Company- As long as you don't take up too much time, the receptionist could help you find the information you need for your interview. Simply be open and honest and mention right away that you are interviewing with the company and would like some additional information before the interview.

4) Type Up The Information Or Write It Down On Notecards- If you can't recall everything you found on the web-site, don't be afraid to write it down or type it up. That way, when the question comes up, you have a reference right in front of you and it shows the hiring manager you took time to go to the web-site to learn more about the company. This is time consuming but it's better to have a reference point in front of you then to have nothing at all.