How can you research a company before a job interview?

1 Identify your goals

Before you dive into researching a company, you need to have a clear idea of what your goals are. What do you want to learn about the company? What do you want to showcase about yourself? How do you want to align your skills and values with the company's mission and culture? Having specific and realistic goals will help you focus your research and avoid getting distracted by irrelevant information.

2 Use multiple sources

One of the most important aspects of critical thinking is to use multiple sources of information and compare them for accuracy, reliability, and bias. Don't rely on just one source, such as the company's website or social media, to form your opinion. Instead, use a variety of sources, such as online reviews, news articles, industry reports, podcasts, blogs, and even your own network. Look for consistent patterns, themes, and facts across different sources, and be wary of any discrepancies, contradictions, or red flags.

3 Analyze the job description

The job description is a valuable source of information that can help you understand what the company is looking for in a candidate, what the main responsibilities and expectations are, and what skills and qualifications are required or preferred. You can use critical thinking skills to analyze the job description and identify the keywords, phrases, and tone that reflect the company's values, culture, and goals. You can also use the job description to tailor your resume, cover letter, and interview answers to match the company's needs and interests.

5 Review your findings

After you have done your research, you need to review your findings and summarize the main points that you want to remember and communicate during the interview. You can use critical thinking skills to organize your findings into categories, such as company background, industry trends, job requirements, company culture, and your fit. You can also use critical thinking skills to evaluate your findings and identify any gaps, inconsistencies, or uncertainties that you need to clarify or address. You can use notes, flashcards, or mind maps to help you review your findings and recall them easily.

6 Apply your knowledge

The final step of researching a company before a job interview is to apply your knowledge and use it to impress the interviewer and demonstrate your value. You can use critical thinking skills to adapt your knowledge to different situations, such as answering behavioral, situational, or technical questions, providing relevant examples, or making connections. You can also use critical thinking skills to reflect on your knowledge and learn from your feedback, mistakes, or successes. Applying your knowledge will help you stand out from the crowd and show that you are a well-informed, well-prepared, and well-suited candidate for the company.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?