Part 14 (1/2)

Company Growth * Is the company in growth mode? Why or why not? * Is the company in growth mode? Why or why not?* What external factors affect its growth?* Where is this company in the cycle? At the end or just the beginning?* Who are its Tier I and Tier II compet.i.tors?* Is there turnover in senior management? Has it been forced by the board or did people reach retirement age? Was a successor being groomed in the wings?

Financial * What do the numbers say? How are the company's balance sheet, income statement, earnings per share, dividend(s)? What do they indicate about the company's health? * What do the numbers say? How are the company's balance sheet, income statement, earnings per share, dividend(s)? What do they indicate about the company's health?* What is the debt-to-equity ratio? Remember, cash is king.* How is the stock price doing? Why is it moving?* How is the stock doing against its compet.i.tors? Against the market as a whole?* Are there other companies where you should be interviewing?* What do the a.n.a.lysts think?

Strategy * What were last year's short-term and long-term strategies/ objectives? Were they met? * What were last year's short-term and long-term strategies/ objectives? Were they met?

Market Share * Are they dominant players? Why? How big is the market? What percentage of the market do they own? What is the next market? * Are they dominant players? Why? How big is the market? What percentage of the market do they own? What is the next market?* Does the company have any new products/services/patents?* Is the company strong or weak domestically versus overseas? Where does the company make most of its profit?* What do each of the regions and products/divisions contribute to the whole?

Technology Issues * Can cost efficiencies be driven through modernization? * Can cost efficiencies be driven through modernization?* How does the Internet affect the company? If it is a threat, does the company have a strategy to address it?

Legal and Regulatory Issues * Are there any pending bills or regulations that might have a significant impact? * Are there any pending bills or regulations that might have a significant impact?* Are there any patent infringements?

People * What do people say about the company publicly? * What do people say about the company publicly?* Is the company being sued or has it been sued by former employees?

a.s.sessing Fit

You don't want to waste your time and effort on companies that are not going to be a good fit. Guerrilla, use this information to get a picture of the organization. Do you think the company/organization has a future? Why or why not? What factors impede the company? It is critical that you understand this information thoroughly before you approach the company. Armed with this background information, you will be able to answer with confidence these typical interview questions: * What do you know about our company?* What are your thoughts on the challenges facing our industry and how can you help us?* What would you do in your first 90 days if we hired you as a ?

Imagine how surprised the interviewer will be when you can articulate what the company's issues are-how your experience fits with their needs and what you would do first. You'll blow them away. On the other hand, if you haven't done your homework before you go in for an interview, you're dead on arrival.

Librarians Are Your Allies

If you're having trouble finding lists of companies or information on specific companies, call your local library and talk to the research librarian. Treat these people like gold. Put them on your Christmas list. Bring them boxes of candy. Buy them flowers on their birthdays. They have forgotten more about how to retrieve information than you will ever know. They are the Sherlock Holmes of reference information. So make friends, ask lots of questions, and take notes, but only after you have at least tried to find some of the information on your own.

If your local library does not have anything on hand in the periodicals, business, or reference sections, then inquire about the interlibrary loan service. Chances are the information you need is available somewhere, just not there. Many people don't realize that libraries all over the world formally share books, CDs, and other reference materials with each other. The definitive source for any book published in the United States is the Library of Congress. If it is in print, the Library of Congress has it and your local librarian can get it.

The libraries may be able to help you access some of these market resource firms as well: * Aberdeen Group ()* Forrester Research ()* Gartner Group ()* IDG ()* Business.com http ( http ()

Alternative Sites

The Internet allows you to search all types of alternate sources of information that may be of value to you as you narrow your list of companies: * The Internet Public Library ()* Vault ()* The Standard ()

Of particular interest if you're trying to get information on private companies is the Search Systems Free Public Records Directory at pany has no control over.

Then there is a very low-tech way-the Yellow Pages or sites that support business phone number listings on the web: * Big Book ()* GTE Superpages ()

How to Find the Hiring Managers