Interview Preparation Tips: How to Research the Company

Interview Preparation Tips: How to Research the Company

So, you’ve completed the full spectrum of interview preparation from preparing a resume to pressing your clothes.

However, there’s one extra step that’s easy to forget while you’re running through your responses to potential interview questions: company research.

Heading off to your interview with only a surface-level understanding of the company can be a recipe for disaster. This is especially true if you flub an answer and prove that you don’t know how the business runs.

To make a great impression during the hiring process, being prepared to show off your knowledge is an absolute must. But how do you get to know a company before you even walk through its doors?

Let’s take a quick look at the best ways to research a business in advance with just a few clicks.

Check Out the Company Website

Let’s start with the basics: your first step should always be checking the company's official website. Doing so will give you a good idea of how the company chooses to present itself online, which can often be telling.

If the organization you’re interviewing for has a detailed website, you may be able to find a ton of information. Look for insights on the company’s history, team, mission and values, products and services, and current and past work. This is also a good opportunity to check out any blog posts and photos you can find?about the office or workspace.

While you’re poking around, be sure to make note of any running themes, such as an emphasis placed on certain core values or a specific company culture.

Do a Google Search

Though getting a feel for the image the company wants to present is helpful, it’s also wise to look for more objective information. Check out both Google and Google news to search for the company in question.

Did the company recently experience layoffs, or are they undergoing a merger? Did they have to recall a recent product, or are they opening new locations? Getting a feel for the current state of the organization can help you stay on your toes during the interview.

While you’re searching Google, don’t forget to take a look at industry trends in general. This can help you get a broader understanding of the company’s field overall, as well as a sense of how it’s doing when compared with the competition.

Browse Social Media

If you can find any company social media accounts, be sure to check out those pages as well. Though you’re likely to find plenty of links back to the website, the company may also share other information as well. Getting a feel for the content they’re posting, from inspirational quotes to infographics, can help you better understand how the company is trying to present itself to customers.

Don’t forget to also check out comments, testimonials, and reviews while you’re there. Learning about the types of interactions the company has with other social media users can be valuable.

Though LinkedIn is a social media platform as well, it’s worth?highlighting as a special case. LinkedIn research gives you an opportunity to find out more about the people you might be working with and—most importantly—the people who might be interviewing you. If you know the name of your interviewer, looking them up on LinkedIn is a great way to get a feel for their titles, education, experience, and the type of work and projects they do.

Take a Look at Company Review Websites

Company review sites like Glassdoor can be invaluable ways to get a behind-the-scenes look at the organization you’re interviewing for.

Browsing Glassdoor gives you access to reviews from current and former employees. Check out these reviews to get a sense of what work life is like behind closed doors. This can include everything from employee duties to salary expectations.

Though you might want to check out Glassdoor’s list of the?most common interview questions , you?can also find specific questions from candidates who have interviewed with your chosen company in the past. This can be a great way to get a sneak peek at the interview questions you can expect!

One caveat: be sure to take this information with a grain of salt. People are most likely to post on company review sites when they’re unhappy with a bad interview or with their job. The information may skew more negatively than expected.

Bonus: Using These Tips During Your Job Interview

As you might expect, the tips above will be pretty helpful if your interviewer throws?one dreaded question ?at you: “Why do you want to work here?” With a better understanding of the company’s current state, values, and goals, you’ll be better poised to explain how you can impact their bottom line. Be as specific as possible, highlighting your strengths and how they relate to the company.

In addition, if anything during your research resonated with you, now is the time to share your admiration! Companies love to hear that candidates are enthusiastic about specific aspects of the job or workplace.

Last, don’t forget that a job interview goes both ways. This is also a chance for you to interview the company, and you should come prepared with at least one or two?questions to ask your interviewer. ?If you’ve found anything during your research that sparked a question or raised a potential red flag, now is the time to bring it up.

Make the Most of Your Interview Preparation

At the end of the day, company research is one step of the interview preparation process you absolutely won’t want to skip. A few simple searches can uncover a wealth of valuable insights about the brand you’re interviewing with. This ensures that you make a great impression and feel comfortable that the business is a good match for your goals.

As you prepare to wow your interviewers, don’t forget that we’re here to help. Browse the other posts on our blog or jump over to our job board to find great companies worth working for!