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I always advise my students to do some pertinent research both on the web
and through library databases (available at your community library if you
don't have campus access) BEFORE you send in the resume. The company's own
web site will tell you who they think they are, and what is important to
them. This gives you important clues that you can use in your cover letter
to increase your chances of getting an interview. Beyond the company's info,
look for 3rd party info on them, usually from a database such as Barron's.
It will show important facts such as employee turnover rate, financial
health of the company, and link you to any news stories that may help you
decide if you really want to work for that company. Sometimes these
databases reveal additional information, such as parent companies that are
engaged in things like weapons manufacture or pharmaceutical production.
This research, along with a detailed analysis of the job advertisement, will
give you exactly the information you need to make your cover letter stand
out, and get you an interview. If the job ad and the company's web site keep
mentioning delivering on deadline, and being flexible, then you want to say
something in your cover letter that demonstrates your commitment and
experience to those as well.
BTW, your resume shows that you've applied for the right job, i.e., that you
have the qualifications they are looking for. It's the cover letter that
gets the interview; the interview gets you the job.
When you get into the interview, have a few questions prepared that
demonstrate that you've done your homework, and also that you can be a great
fit for their team. For example, "XYZ Systems is known for delivering on
deadline. What kind of development methodology do you use?". "I like to work
hard and I don't mind working overtime to get the job done. Do you have many
instances of overtime situations here?" Ask about the things that
particularly interest you and help you make up your mind whether you'd want
to work there. "How would you describe your corporate culture?" "What is the
single most important quality you value in a technical writer?" And after
each response, you can tie that in to your own qualifications. "Great, I
thrive in teamwork situations." "I agree. The ability to handle the big
picture as well as the details is something that I've always been good at."
Don't waste any opportunity to show them that you are right for the job.
--Beth
-----Original Message-----
Two questions:
1. How do you research the companies you have an interview with? At what
stage do you research them (before sending in a resume, or after snagging an
interview?)?
2. What kinds of questions do you ask during the interview. If you interview
with multiple people at the company (HR, Writing Manager, Other employees),
how do you divide your questions between these groups?
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