K is for… What do you KNOW about our Firm/Company?
By asking this question the interviewer is trying to understand your interest in the firm/company, assess how much research you have done, and specifically what research you have done. This is not as easy question. I have had many interviews where I have been caught out by this question. Your answer may dictate the follow-up questions and may even have an influence on whether you get the job.
This is an answer you can prepare well for in advance of your interview by doing your research. I write a lot about ‘doing research’ and I believe that it is an important part of getting any job. You can get started on the Company Website – but you should always try to progress beyond their website and beyond press releases where you can. If the company is part of your ‘long term’ plan you should be keeping tabs on them long before the actual interview.
This question is your chance to show off, hopefully impress and highlight what aspects of the company you are interested in.
Using your career journal will help you find inspiration for Interview Questions and help you prepare, practice and review your answers. This can be a great technique which is why I have chosen to use the A to Z of Interview Questions Posts as Journal Prompts. If you don’t already have a career journal this is the perfect excuse to get started.