It pays to know what you can about the organisation and the position you are applying for and with the wealth of accessible information on the internet these days, there’s no excuse not to. Visit the organisation’s website and read up on their profile but also look further afield.
Familiarise yourself with the company’s history, output or services and any recent changes. Look at what they’ve done recently and if there’s a pattern. Start by reading some of their press releases and maybe look at the management team. Who are the key people in the organization and what can you learn about them? See if the organization has been in the news, have they received grants, awards, announced major projects. For performance and exhibition companies, if there’s something you can go and see – go and see it. Know where the company is based. Learn about their target market, their clients and consider who their competitors might be.