I'm just finishing up, “How Are You Doing? Rate the Health of Your Career,” an assessment designed to determine the health of your career. This helpful scorecard measures several key indicators of career satisfaction. 

·        Learn exactly where your career excels and what areas need improvement.

·        Find new areas you haven't thought about before, but could use to gain a competitive edge.

·        Use the survey results to create a plan to get your career to the next level- and beyond! 

If you'd like a copy, email me at joan@pathwayscareer.com with “Career Check-up” in the subject line.  It should be ready within the next couple of days.  

Before each interview, be sure to research the company and the industry. You want to be able to answer the question, “So, why do you want to work here?” Information can be gleaned from talking with people and from the Internet. Company websites will provide you with some useful information. Also “google” the company to find out what the press is saying. With research, you'll be able to speak knowledgeably about the trends in the company, industry, and position. 

Two Kinds of Research

There are two kinds of research- primary and secondary. Primary research is talking to people who are doing the kind work in which you are interested or people who know something about those industries or organizations. You can connect with those people through networking or direct contact. Secondary research is done through information online or the library. It doesn't involve people. 

Keep a balance between primary and secondary research. Primary research can be done when you're talking to a person on a plane or at a bus stop. It can also done when you go to an association meeting or at a party. Basically primary research is talking to people. 

When conducting secondary research, go to the company's website. The hiring manager is likely to ask, “What do you know about our company?” Get a copy of their annual report. Many companies have a press release section on their websites. Talk to former and current employees, when possible. You can find out about the projects the department is working on and information about the personalities of all the managers you would be dealing with. Talk to association members to determine whether you actually want to work there. Ask what they know about the company and if it's a good company. Check out online discussion boards. Often containing gossip, but not always, you may be able to obtain information that could help you during your interview process. 

Research for Follow-Up

Research for the follow-up phase. Consider those issues that came up during the interview and how you can address them. For example, let's say the interviewer was concerned that you have no experience working with mergers. Contact someone who does and ask how they would handle this. Then contact the hiring manager and ask for another meeting. You could say, “I've given some thought to your question on how I would handle mergers in this job and I would like to meet with you again to discuss. 

You'll need to research salary information to determine your market value. Go to websites such as salary.com or look at salary surveys at yahoo.com. You can also look at job postings and sites having to do with your field. 

Don't forget that research is a very important part of the interview process. It can determine whether or not you receive the job offer.