Interested in the job? Research the company first.

Job-seeking is a serious undertaking and should not be taken lightly. Especially if you have set your eyes to work with some of the top notch companies in the world, ask yourself truthfully what attracted you; is it the pay, the perks, the reputation, the company culture or something else? Remember that work hours take up a great percentage of one's life and has significant impact on one's happiness, family, and even mental health!

If the company offers something that you truly have passion for and a real aptitude in, and you have what it takes to meet/exceed the requirements that the company is asking for, then the job might be a good fit for you. Analogous to marriage, if both parties aren't compatible, there is misery down the road and less chance of happiness and success. Being employed is a kind of "partnership" with your employer - you give (of your time, talents, energy etc. to solve the employer's problem) and receive a salary in return. It never works one-way only.

A job-seeker usually views a job ad. for "certain criteria" and then proceeds to send in a resume and cover letter without doing a thorough research of the company. Be different! Learn more about the company first ... I remembered I actually flew 4 hours (overseas) over to visit the organization I was interested in working for, applied for the job, and got hired! But that was 16 years ago when the Internet was non-existent for the public. Doing a little due diligence will increase one's understanding of the company's philosophy and hiring process (if any), providing much needed information to help one make a more informed decision and write a better resume and cover letter - thus improving one's chance for success. Featured here is one such video I came across on YouTube ... where a company talks about it's hiring process ... Enjoy!

Articles about hiring process at different companies:
- Microsoft