The more you know about a potential employer, the better.

Conducting basic research on the organisation you are interviewing with will help you make a good impression. Just as importantly, it may also help you decide your likely fit with the company.

When researching, draw from multiple sources, including the firms’ website and marketing materials, from your personal networking contacts, and from newspapers and any industry-specific magazines and business directories. You can always try Google to find out what’s being said about them. Don’t forget to talk to your Eloquent Staffing consultant – they’ll be able to help you understand the client and the culture. Ask about the firm’s core strengths and the opportunities available by working for them.

At minimum, you should be able to answer the following questions:

• How long has the company been in business?
• What is its industry reputation?
• Is the company financially sound and profitable?
• What is the company’s greatest accomplishment?
  What about its biggest failure?
• How does your potential role fit in to the larger organisational picture?

While preparing for your interview, take the time to learn about your interviewer, including their position within the firm, their involvement in the recruitment process, and even one or two personal details – you can easily Google their name, ask your consultant, or a contact who works with them or may have worked with them in the past.

This information will help eliminate some of the unknowns and, with a bit of luck, put you at ease for the interview.