🔍 Pre-Interview Research: Industry Knowledge

Your Secret Weapon Before the Big Day

Imagine you’re going on a treasure hunt. Would you start without a map? Of course not! Industry knowledge is your treasure map for job interviews. It shows you where the gold is hidden and helps you speak the language of the people who already found it.

🌊 Understanding Industry Trends

What Are Trends?

Think of industry trends like the weather. Just like you check if it’s sunny or rainy before going outside, you need to check what’s “hot” or “cooling down” in your industry before an interview.

Simple Example:

• A few years ago, everyone wanted websites
• Then mobile apps became the big thing
• Now AI and automation are everywhere
• Each change = a new trend!

Why Do Trends Matter?

When you know the trends, you sound like an insider, not an outsider. It’s like knowing the latest episode of everyone’s favorite show. You can join the conversation!

graph TD
    A[Read Industry News] --> B[Spot Patterns]
    B --> C[Identify Hot Topics]
    C --> D[Sound Like an Expert]
    D --> E[Impress the Interviewer!]

How to Find Trends

1. Google “[Your Industry] trends 2024” - Simple but powerful
2. LinkedIn - Follow industry leaders
3. Industry blogs - Read what experts write
4. Company blogs - See what YOUR target company talks about

Real Life Example:

You’re interviewing at a bank. You discover “digital banking” and “fintech partnerships” are trending. In your interview, you say: “I noticed your recent partnership with a fintech startup. I’m excited about how traditional banks are innovating!”

Result: Interviewer thinks, “This person did their homework!”

💰 Researching Salary Ranges

Why Know Your Worth?

Imagine selling lemonade without knowing other stands charge $1. You might ask for 50 cents and lose money, or ask for $5 and get no customers. Knowing salary ranges helps you ask for fair pay—not too low, not too high.

Where to Find Salary Information

The Salary Sandwich

Think of salary like a sandwich with three layers:

graph TD
    A[🍞 Top: Maximum Salary] --> B[🥬 Middle: Average Salary]
    B --> C[🍞 Bottom: Minimum Salary]

• Bottom: What beginners earn
• Middle: What most people earn
• Top: What experts earn

Your Goal: Know all three layers before your interview!

Real Life Example

You’re applying for a marketing role. Research shows:

• Bottom: $45,000
• Middle: $55,000
• Top: $70,000

If asked about salary expectations, you confidently say: “Based on my research and experience, I’m looking for something in the $55,000-65,000 range.”

Result: You sound informed, not greedy or desperate.

📚 Industry Terminology

Speak Their Language

Every job has its own “secret language.” Doctors say “stat” (immediately). Pilots say “roger” (understood). Your industry has special words too!

Why It Matters:

• Using the right words = showing you belong
• Wrong words = showing you’re an outsider

How to Learn Industry Terms

1. Read job descriptions carefully - They’re full of key terms
2. Look at LinkedIn profiles - See how people describe their work
3. Read industry articles - Notice repeated words
4. Make a glossary - Write down new terms and their meanings

Common Term Categories

Real Life Example

Wrong: “I helped make customers happier.”

Right: “I improved our NPS score by 15 points by implementing a new customer success workflow using Zendesk.”

Same achievement. Different impact. The second one screams “I know what I’m doing!”

Quick Terminology Exercise

Before your interview, find answers to:

• What software does this company use?
• What methodology do they follow?
• What metrics do they track?
• What’s their biggest product/service called?

📰 Current Events Awareness

Stay Fresh, Stay Relevant

Imagine someone asking about your favorite sports team, and you talk about games from 5 years ago. Awkward, right? Same with industries. You need to know what’s happening NOW.

The News You Need

graph TD
    A[Company News] --> E[Complete Picture]
    B[Industry News] --> E
    C[Competitor News] --> E
    D[Economic News] --> E

Where to Find Current Events

1. Google News - Search “[Company Name]” weekly
2. Company Press Releases - Check their website
3. LinkedIn Company Page - Their recent posts
4. Industry Publications - Trade magazines and blogs
5. Twitter/X - Follow company accounts

What to Look For

Real Life Example

You’re interviewing at a food delivery company. Last week, they announced expansion into 5 new cities.

In your interview, you say: “I was excited to read about your expansion into the Midwest. I’d love to be part of a growing team tackling new markets.”

Result: Interviewer thinks, “This person is genuinely interested in US, not just any job!”

The 24-Hour Rule

The night before your interview:

1. Search the company name in Google News
2. Check their LinkedIn and Twitter
3. Look for any breaking industry news

You’ll walk in knowing the latest, ready to impress!

🎯 Putting It All Together

Think of these four areas as ingredients in a recipe:

graph TD
    A[🌊 Industry Trends] --> E[🏆 Interview Success]
    B[💰 Salary Knowledge] --> E
    C[📚 Terminology] --> E
    D[📰 Current Events] --> E

Your Pre-Interview Checklist

• [ ] Trends: Know 3 major trends in your industry
• [ ] Salary: Research the pay range for your role
• [ ] Terms: Learn 10 key industry words
• [ ] News: Read the latest company and industry news

The Confidence Formula

When you know:

• Where the industry is going (trends)
• What you’re worth (salary)
• How to talk the talk (terminology)
• What’s happening right now (current events)

…you walk into that interview room not as a nervous applicant, but as a prepared professional ready to have a real conversation.

💡 Quick Tips to Remember

1. Google is your friend - Use it to research everything
2. Take notes - Write down what you learn
3. Practice saying terms out loud - Don’t stumble on them
4. Be genuinely curious - Research isn’t homework, it’s preparation for success
5. Update your research - Industries change fast!

Remember: The interviewer isn’t just checking if you CAN do the job. They’re checking if you UNDERSTAND the job. Industry knowledge shows you understand.

You’ve got this! 🚀