Knowing how to research a company for an interview helps you obtain information that you can use to give the best possible answers to interview questions. You can use what you learned to determine what kind of skills and experiences the company looks for in candidates, what average salaries are, what the culture is, and more.
In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to research a company for a job interview, what the benefits of doing so are, and how to use the information obtained to prepare for a meeting.
Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways
You should know how to research a company before applying for a job to create a tailored resume and cover letter and to give optimal answers during an interview.
If you’re unsure about how to research a company, you should start by visiting its website, then proceed to check its social media profiles, look for the latest news, and ask professionals from your network about it.
You can prepare for an interview based on your research by aligning your answers, demeanor, and outfit to match the company’s etiquette and requirements.
Should You Research a Company Before Interview?
You should research a company before your job interview to obtain as much information about it as possible. This will help you confidently approach the interview while demonstrating genuine interest in the role and the ability to go the extra mile.
Knowing what to look for when researching a company for an interview is essential to ensure you don’t overlook any critical aspects. With that in mind, you should look into the company’s projects or services, examine its team, culture, and work environment, analyze its values and long-term goals, and get updated on its latest efforts.
By learning about and understanding all of these aspects, you’ll paint a full picture of the organization you want to join. This will allow you to emphasize the skills and qualifications that you know are needed by the company.
Here are three key benefits of learning how to research a company:
Benefits of Company Research
Giving optimal responses. You can tailor your answers to interview questions to portray yourself as a perfect fit for the role.
Showing genuine interest. By emphasizing an in-depth knowledge of the company, you’ll demonstrate that you’re there for more than just a paycheck.
Reducing interview anxiety. Familiarizing yourself with the company helps you approach the interview confidently and comfortably.
How to Research the Company For an Interview
Let’s learn how to research a company before an interview by going through some of the crucial steps you should take. We’ll show you how to conduct research, what details to look for, and how to leverage insights to ace the meeting with recruiters.
#1. Review the Company’s Website
Reviewing the company’s website is a good starting point for your research. On the one hand, it can give you a concise overview of the company and its team, products, and services. However, deeper research can provide insight into the company’s values and business goals.
Typically, you can go to sections like “About Us,” “Careers,” “Our Mission,” or “Our Story” to familiarize yourself with the basics. You can often navigate to these sections from the website’s homepage. Explore each one with care and take notes of unique projects or efforts, especially if they align with your skills and aspirations.
You can highlight these details during the interview to demonstrate preparedness and show your investment in the role. This can be particularly useful when interviewers ask questions like “Why should we hire you?” or “Why do you want to work here?”
#2. Check the Company’s Social Media
The company’s social media generally provides more personal and current insight into its work and team. Companies and professionals often use social media platforms to showcase their recent efforts, projects, and accomplishments. This includes various events, campaigns, and initiatives that you can examine to gain a deeper understanding of company culture.
Platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok also allow these organizations to interact with others, such as a customer base, other professionals or companies, and so on. You can analyze these interactions and discussions to learn about the company’s brand voice and tone.
The insights obtained this way help you choose what to wear to an interview and can prove invaluable when answering cultural fit interview questions. Additionally, you’ll know more about the company’s latest projects and developments, demonstrating your research skills and investment in the application.
#3. Research Recent Company-Related News
By researching the most recent company-related news and articles, you’ll have contextual knowledge of the latest events and happenings. This includes the newest product launches, policy and leadership changes, partnerships, etc.
One of the simplest ways to find relevant news when conducting company research is to use Google News or similar news aggregator websites. This way, you’ll quickly get the most recent and relevant news articles, giving you a starting point for further research.
During your job interview, you can mention some of the most recent news (e.g., a particularly interesting product line) and show how your skills and experience can help you contribute to that aspect of the company.
#4. Research the Employees on LinkedIn
Researching a company’s employees on LinkedIn is one of the best ways to understand its workforce and culture. You can also use this opportunity to understand its hierarchy and structure, infer what your career path could be (should you join), and understand what kind of skills and qualifications the company values.
You can also leverage your LinkedIn network. If you encounter mutual connections, you can contact them for additional information about the organization. Their personal insight can be much more detailed and valuable than the information displayed on public pages, helping you emphasize how your goals and experiences align with the company’s needs.
#5. Find Company Reviews
A big part of learning how to research a company is looking at reviews their employees leave to gain an unfiltered look into its affairs. Websites like Glassdoor allow professionals to leave honest reports on what the company is like, as well as its management style, workplace culture and environment, work-life balance, advancing opportunities, etc.
When conducting this type of research, you want to examine many comments to get a more balanced idea of what it’s like to work there. You can compare these reviews with your research to find a middle ground and best prepare for an interview.
#6. Ask Your Network
Leveraging your professional network is one of the best ways to get exhaustive firsthand information. You can ask your colleagues and connections that work (or used to work) at the company to give you a broad overview, or you can inquire about specific details, like the company’s work environment, its approach to collaboration, and even the interview process.
While LinkedIn is one of the easiest platforms where you can find and contact mutual connections, you can also use other social media platforms, email, direct messages, or even in-person meetings. The nuanced advice professionals from your network can give you can help you get a competitive edge.
#7. Research Company Salaries
Researching company salaries helps you prepare for salary negotiations. Websites like Payscale, Glassdoor, and Salary help you understand the current market conditions. You’ll find out how the company you’re applying to compares to the competition and what you can expect in terms of pay and benefits.
This allows you to provide informed answers to interview questions about salary expectations. You can give an appropriate range that doesn’t undervalue your skills and experience while not overshooting the employer’s budget.
#8. Find Out About the Hiring Manager
Finding out about the hiring manager is one of the most important steps in learning how to research a company you want to work for. Firstly, it lets you address them in your cover letter, helping you build rapport and leave a memorable first impression.
Furthermore, by researching the hiring manager, you can better understand their values and interests, which you can use in your conversation. For instance, some hiring managers might value creativity, while others might look for candidates with problem-solving skills.
#9. Look at the Company’s Competitors
Looking up the competition will give you a broad understanding of the industry. Once you find information about the company and its competitors, you can compare them to see the differences and similarities and understand how they are positioned in the market.
Furthermore, this will give you a deeper understanding of the current market trends, which is particularly important if you’re in fast-paced and ever-evolving fields like marketing or software engineering. You can research competitors the same way you research the company you want to join, i.e., via their website, social media, news, and more.
Discussing competitors during your job interview helps you highlight your capacity for strategic thinking. You can position yourself as a competent professional who is well-versed in the industry, which will allow you to get ahead of the competition and maximize your chances of success.
How to Prepare for Your Interview Based on Your Research
You can prepare for a job interview based on your research by using insights obtained to tailor everything—from your answers to the most common interview questions to your behavior and outfit. It gives you the opportunity to align your skills and work-related accomplishments to the needs of the company and position yourself as the right person for the role.
Here are some examples of answers to interview questions that take research into account:
1. Why do you want to work for us?
Sample answer
The launch of your latest product line was publicly praised for being made of 100% recycled materials. My passion for sustainability and experience in eco-friendly development align with your mission, and I would be honored to join your cause.
2. What do you know about our company?
Sample answer
I know your recent [Product Name] launch set you apart from the competition due to its [Feature]. I am excited for the opportunity to join your forward-thinking team and contribute to future projects like that.
3. Do you have any questions for us?
Sample answer
I read a news article about your recent partnership with [Company Name]. I was wondering if you could share how this new alliance affected your current development, marketing strategies, and internal collaboration.
Final Thoughts
If you want to maximize your chances of getting a job, you should figure out how to research a company for a cover letter, resume, and job interview. The knowledge obtained will portray you as a competent professional invested in the company and eager to go the extra mile to join it.
Fortunately, learning how to research a company is simple; all you need is a computer and a stable internet connection. Remember to pay close attention to the information obtained on websites, social media, and through networking, and write down key points to help you prepare.
