Direction and planning:
11. How does it innovate in the industry — by maintaining cutting edge products, cutting costs, or what?
Competitive profile
How the company is positioned within its industry and how hard competitors are nipping at its heels are measures of the company’s long-term health and the relative stability of your prospective job there. Get to the bottom of these issues by asking:1. Who are the company’s competitors?2. What are the company’s current projects?3. What setbacks has it experienced?4. What are its greatest accomplishments?5. Is the company in a growing industry?6. Will technology dim its future?7. Does it operate with updated technology?
Company History
Assess how the company’s future may be influenced by its past. Was the company part of a hostile takeover? Has it been doing the same things the same way for years because its founder would have wanted it that way? Ask the following questions to find out:1. When and where was it established?2. Is it privately or publicly owned?3. Is it a subsidiary or a division?4. Has it changed much over time?5. How quickly has it grown?
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