Finding out

Finding out as much about the job as possible

The first thing you need to do is take a very close look at the duties
and requirements of the job you’re applying for. It is these duties and
requirements that will form the basis of your answers. There are
several ways of collecting this sort of information:

• scrutinising the job advertisement;
• accessing a duty statement—if there is one;
• contacting the employer or recruitment agent to clarify the main
responsibilities of the job.

In an ideal world, you would have access to a detailed job
advertisement, an up-to-date duty statement and an employer happy
to discuss the main responsibilities of the job. Unfortunately, all too
often the reality is that job ads are thinly worded, duty statements
are non-existent and employers do not have time to return your
calls. However, it is critical that you find out as much about the job
as possible before sitting down and thinking about your answers.

The best source of information is either the employer or the
recruitment agent. Job ads and duty statements are useful (sometimes
they’re all that you will have); however, duty statements can often
be out of date and job ads can lack sufficient information.
Talking to the right people can provide you with insights that
often cannot be picked up from the written word.

You might find out, for example, that the position you’re applying for was made
vacant because the previous incumbent had poor interpersonal
communication skills and became aggressive when anyone expressed
a differing opinion. In such a case, it is likely that the employer will
be looking for a replacement with excellent interpersonal
communication and team player skills. You’d have a far better chance
of winning the job if you had accessed this information before the
interview and taken the time to prepare your answers.
Talking to an employer to find out more
If you’re able to talk to the employer, be sure you’ve got your questions
prepared. The last thing you want to do is waste their time by
stumbling through poorly thought-out questions. If the employer
does not return your call, do not throw in the towel. Often the
person who answers the phone can be an invaluable source of
information—especially in small to medium sized enterprises. There’s
a good chance that they know a great deal about the position, or
they might know someone else who does and is willing to talk to
you. Here are some useful rules when talking to an employer before
the interview:

• Avoid small talk and get straight to the point. Small talk will be
seen as sucking up—which, of course, it is!
• Avoid asking too many questions—just ask the important ones,
unless the employer has made it obvious that they’ve got lots
of time on their hands and is willing to talk to you.
• Never ask frivolous questions—those that can be answered from
the advertisement or that a good applicant would be expected
to know the answers to.
• Where necessary, provide a succinct reason why you’re asking
the question—the employer may not understand the significance
of the question and could draw the wrong conclusions.
• Thank them for their time and tell them you’re looking forward
to the interview.
A quick word about duty statements
Duty statements are simply a summary of the main duties of a job.
Whilst they’re a great source of information, they can be out of
date. So, if you’ve been sent one, make the effort to find out whether
the information on it is still valid. Checking on a duty statement
can represent a great opportunity to contact the employer and ask
a few questions. Unfortunately, duty statements are usually the
preserve of large organisations. Smaller companies generally lack
the resources to write them.

Gleaning information from a job advertisement
When you scrutinise the job advertisement, make a list of all the
duties/requirements associated with the position. The idea is to try
to read between the lines as much as possible. The more duties and
requirements you come up with, the more thorough your preparation
will be, which will lessen the chances of being caught unprepared
at the interview.