Do Your Homework Before the Big Interview By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer Once upon a time,

a job seeker landed an intervie , skimmed the prospective employer!s annual report, o ed the hiring manager ith a "e company "acts and strolled into his dream job# $hat late%!&'s "airy tale rarely comes true these days# With employers in more control o" the labor market, candidates "eel compelled to give it their all in their intervie preparation# (nd that includes mounting a broad, deep search "or relevant in"ormation about the position, the company, the industry and even the intervie er# )uckily "or you, diverse resources, many o" them "ree or cheap and available on the *nternet, enable you to achieve that competitive edge i" you!re illing to put your nose to the grindstone %% or computer monitor# Employers' Web Sites +our prospective employer!s corporate Web site is the best place to see the company as it ants to be seen# ,o check out that annual report, but also look "or a -press room- or -company ne s- page that links to recent ne s releases# (s you mull all this in"ormation, consider ho the open position, as detailed in the job posting, relates to the company!s mission# But don!t stop there# .se the company site!s search "acility to /uery the names o" the hiring manager and any others on your intervie dance card# +ou may retrieve bio pages or press releases that give you insight into their most visible activities at the company# -)earning about the intervie er is probably the most valuable thing you can do,- says Ron 0ry, author o" 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions# Resear h Employers 1e2t, get some vital statistics and independent perspectives on your prospective employer# 3oover!s Online, "or one, provides capsule descriptions, "inancial data and a list o" competitors "or thousands o" large corporations# +our 4'5k or mutual "und account ith a major broker likely provides more detailed research on publicly traded companies and industries, "ree o" charge# -+ou may be able to go to competitors "or the prospective employer!s "inancials,- says Joyce )ain 6ennedy, Los Angeles Times career columnist and author o" Job Interviews for Dummies# !ews Sour es 1o broaden your perspective and see hat general%interest and business publications and Web sites are riting about the employer and its industry# +ou can "ind a ide range

o" media outlets at 1e s)ink, notes 6ennedy# Search national publications "or ne s on major corporations7 use hometo n ne spapers to learn about small businesses and ho big businesses interact ith their local communities# Re"desk and bi8journals#com also o""er gate ays to journalism on companies and industries# "ra#e $ournals $aking cues "rom your research so "ar, drill do n into your target company and its place in the industry by looking at trade journals and other speciali8ed publications# -9et a "e months o" the relevant trade journal,- advises 0ry# -+ou!re going to "ind out about ne products and hat the trade is saying about the company#+ou may "ind hard copies o" trade journals at university or public libraries# Some journals are available "or "ree or by subscription through their o n Web sites7 the "ull te2t o" thousands more is available through periodical databases like :ro;uest and *n"o$rac# +ou may even be able to access *n"o$rac "or "ree via the Web, using just the membership number on your public library card# Contact your local library "or details# In#ustry Dire tories By no , you!ve probably got some very speci"ic /uestions regarding the employer and your potential role there# 9o directly to the grapevine by making contact ith other orkers at your target company or else here in the industry# -*" you belong to a pro"essional organi8ation, go to its directory,- says Marilyn :incus, author o" Interview Strategies that Lead to Job Offers# *" you don!t belong, consider joining7 check out the (merican Society o" (ssociation <2ecutives! 9ate ay to (ssociations ,irectory# O" course, you can also use net orking services to get in touch ith people inside the company# %oogle 0inally, i" you hope to have a company ogling you, try 9oogling them "irst# +ou just might come up ith a nugget you ould have missed other ise# While you!re at it, 9oogle yoursel" to make sure you and the intervie er are on the same page# Because i" he!s savvy, he!s doing unto you as you!ve just done unto him and his company#