How to Research a Company for a Job Interview

Last Updated on August 10, 2022 by Career Reload Team

You have likely heard that a job interview is as much of your interviewing your employer as them interviewing you. It is a fact that interviewers do expect you to show your interest and intellectual curiosity during the interview process about their company or organization, and you can illustrate this by asking questions. The key is to come into the interview armed with a good baseline of knowledge about the place you are interviewing to have such questions ready to ask.

Visit The Company Website

A great place to begin your familiarization with the company is its website. Most organizations’ websites have an ‘About Us’ page that lays out their mission statement, products, and services, and contains information about the company’s history, management,  and work culture.

Look for a ‘Press’ section on the website as well and read through the featured links to get a good feel for the latest developments and announcements from the company.

It is a good idea to pay attention to the wording and themes that the company’s website chooses to exhibit as any of the corporate values they openly state. How a company chooses to describe itself can be very telling about their culture.

Social Media

You will be able to get a lot of information from the company’s ‘About Us’ page, but you can arguably get more unique content and knowledge from browsing their social media accounts like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Doing so will give you a good idea about how a company wants its consumers to see it.

You can follow the company’s social media to get the latest news and updates from them, which will give you more material to speak to in your interview questions.

Utilize LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great way to find out more pertinent information about the company that you might be interested in. Not only does LinkedIn give you the ability to see related companies and the organization’s statistics, but you will also be able to see any new job postings, new hires, and promotions. If you find that you have company connections, you should reach out to them to find out their internal perspective and get insight into the interview process. They may even be able to serve as a reference for you with the firm.

If you know who you will be interviewing with, check out the interviewer’s LinkedIn profile as well to get an idea of their background and job. Look for areas you and the interviewer may have in common. Perhaps you graduated from the same school, know some of the same people, belong to some common online groups, or travel in similar social circles. Any common ties can be leveraged to your advantage during the interview process to establish a positive rapport with the interviewer.

Get An Interview Edge

If you want a really clear idea of the sort of questions you will encounter at the interview or what questions are best to ask, check out the company’s information on Glassdoor. Candidates who have interviewed with the company for perhaps similar positions as you will be will express what they thought of the interview and could give you an idea of what the process was like, as well as what sorts of questions were asked.

Do not just rely on one or two perspectives, however. Employees at a company are a lot more likely to leave reviews when they are unhappy, so you need to keep that in mind when researching. It is best to look for repeating themes such as things most people feel frustrated with or things that people, by and large, compliment the company about.

Know The Competition

One thing that is sure to impress interviewers is knowledge and insight into the industry in which they operate by a candidate. Looking into the industry, current trends, pertinent news, and competitors is a good way to gather up some great questions for your interview as well. If you know the flaws and successes of certain competitors, you can better speak to the company’s own take on the very same matters.

Using Your Research During Interviews

While the interviewer will ask a candidate questions to get to know them better, their real intent is to assess how well the candidate would fit into the company. If you are knowledgeable in your responses and illustrate knowledge, as well as critical thinking with your questions about the company, the interviewer will likely see you as a beneficial addition to the organization’s goals and their bottom line.

One of the questions you are nearly guaranteed to be asked is why you want to work for that company. Your research would have provided you a multifaceted way of answering this question already as you can speak to the things you appreciate and admire about the company itself, its workplace culture, or its mission.

Career Reload Team

We’re a team of writers dedicated to providing insights and tips for navigating the professional world. With a collective wealth of experience across various industries and roles, our team understands the challenges and opportunities that come with seeking meaningful work and advancing your career. We help job seekers to better their careers by offering career advice & free resources. Download free Word resume templates and resume templates for Google Docs.