What to do with info gained ahead of time by Googling interviewer

[mystic_b]

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So I've been to several interviews where I didn't find out who my interviewer was until right before the interviewer, and obviously met them blindly. For my next interview, I already received notification on who my interviewers would be. Of course, I googled them to find out more about them - schooling, research interests, etc. What exactly do you do with this info? I don't want to scare them by admitting I know a bunch about them from doing an internet search. But I can't pretend like I don't know anything about them either. It would probably even be good thing to show I was interested in finding out more about them and the school. Anyone have any tips on how to tactful handle this situation?

 

[Random Access]

Well if something you've done matches up with something they've done, make sure you know a lot about it, because you should assume that they will definitely ask.

-RA

 

[Neuronix]

They always say for the MD/PhD interviews that you should know your interviewers research and where they went to school and all of that... Yeah right. It's never come in handy. They same the same things regardless of whether you know about their already and the less you know the more questions you can ask. So in the long run, I'd say it doesn't matter. I think this pretty much holds true for the MD interviews as well.

For my first two interviews I'd scurry around the Internet, read my interviewer's old papers, etc... What a waste of time. The only time I do that now is if I need to pick my interviewers (some MD/PhD programs will let you do that, if you're lucky you just might get some of them) and even then I'm thinking that I haven't been accepted there yet so what do I care.

 

[UCLAMAN]

I agree with neuronix. I've had a couple interviews where I knew who would interview me. But reading up on them really doesn't do you any good. I mean the interview is supposed to be about you, not them. I think it would be good to look up what their background is just so you have an idea of what they may ask. (ie if they are a biochem PhD and you do biochem research s/he may be interested in what you do in a little more detail than the average joe) If you know their specialty perhaps you can ask specific questions about their field(ie if you are interested in OB/gyn and you will be interviewed by an OB/gyn). But as far as reading past papers, riding their research interests, riding their alma mater, etc. don't waste your breath.

So I would say...for the most part....don't do anything with this info.

This interview is about you and letting them know why you are a great candidate for their institution. So why waste time talking about your interviewer's interests, hobbies and accomplishments instead of your own?

 

[DragonM]

If you don't know what to do with the information then why bother googling in the first place?

 

[Mutterkuchen]

For one thing it can keep you from saying something stupid. Saying I can stand the nutcases in psychiatry to a psychiatrist would probably be the kiss of death.

 

[canadagirl]

..... that probably wouldn't be the best thing to say in ANY interview situation, right? 😉