Use This Underrated Hack to Nail Your Next Interview

Walking into a job interview can feel like stepping onto a stage.

The spotlight is on you, and it's your time for you to perform.

But fear not - with the right preparation, you can ditch the jitters and nail the interview.

A deep understanding of the company’s mission, values, achievements, and strategy is key.

It not only shows your genuine interest in the organization but also demonstrates your thoroughness and work ethic, positioning you as the ideal candidate for the job.

The foundation of this approach is research.

Its relatively easy, especially for publicly traded companies, who have to publish annual reports.

Those annual reports are a gold mine of information.

I got my last job because I researched the company. The company was in the middle of an acquisition, and was undergoing significant changes.

Predictably, my interview was full of questions about change management.

Thanks to my research, I was able to discuss relevant scenarios showcasing my experience in implementing and navigating change.

And yes, that preparation paid off – I got the job.

Here’s a lesser-known, yet effective hack for conducting company research when you don't have insider scoop:

1. Download the Annual Report from the company website. Check the ‘About Us’ or ‘Investor Relations’ section.

2. Read the Executive summary, a letter from the CEO which outlines the company’s achievements, challenges and strategic direction.

3. Read the Business Overview for information on the company’s core operations, business segments, products, services and key projects.

4. Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for management’s perspective on the financial results and what is driving them.

5. Market and Risk Factors for information on the market, competitors, and risk factors that could affect future performance.

6. Financial Statements to find trends in revenue, profit margins, expenses, debt, and cash reserves.

7. Comparative Analysis to compare the company's performance with previous years and with competitors.

8. Look for Red Flags such as declining sales, increasing debt, or significant changes in accounting policies.

9. Non-Financial Information to evaluate the company's corporate governance, ESG, DEI initiatives, the overall culture.

Leverage ChatGPT

You can also use ChatGPT to do the research in less than 5 mins:

Step 1: Extract the information

"I have the annual report for [Company Name] and need a detailed analysis for my upcoming job interview. Please provide insights on the company's achievements, challenges, strategic direction, core operations, products, key projects, financial performance, market conditions, competitor analysis, risk factors, and an analysis of the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. Look for trends in revenue, profit margins, expenses, debt, and cash reserves. Also, evaluate the company's corporate governance, environmental impact, and social responsibility initiatives.” Attached is the latest annual report.

Step 2: Tie the information in to the job description

Leveraging the information from the [Company Name] latest Annual Report, how can I position myself as an ideal candidate for the (insert title) role at [Company Name] and align my skills and experiences with the company's strategic direction, challenges, and operations. Here is the job description(insert job description)’.

P.S: You might need a ChatGPT Plus subscription to upload PDFs.

If you don’t have a Plus subscription, you can still do the research. Ask GPT to give you the information as at its last training data.

Summary of the key takeaways:

1. Use annual reports to gain crucial company insights and strategies.

2. Research as much information on the company for targeted interview preparation. Leverage ChatGPT for detailed research and analysis.

3. Use the information from the interview to position yourself as the best candidate.

Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help you:

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Until next time,

Zainab

Remember, you are just one step away…

P.S: I would love to hear from you - what topics would you like me to share more of? I want to make sure I write about the things that matter to you.