How to Research a Company for a Job Interview

How to Research a Company for a Job InterviewHow to Research a Company for a Job InterviewYou may have heard the advice that its important to have some questions for the hiring manager when youre bewerberinterviewing for a job. While its true that interviewers will expect you to be curious and interested in their organization, and to show that by asking questions, its also true that you should come to the interview with a good baseline of knowledge about the company. Hopefully, youll learn a lot about the company during the interview- like whether the organization and the company culture are a good fit for you, for example. But during the interview is not the time to learn basic information about the company. You should know all that before you set foot in corporate HQ. The good news is that its easier than ever before to learn about an employer before the job interview. Take some time, in advance, to learn as much as you can online. Then, tap into your real-world network to see who you know who can help give you an interview edge over the other candidates. Do your research, and youll make a much better impression on the hiring manager. Here are tips for researching companies before the interview. 1. Visit the Company Website Start by visiting the company website. There, you can review the organizations mission statement and history, products and services, and management, as well as information about the company culture. The information is usually available in the About Us section of the site. If theres a Press section of the website, read through the featured links there. Pay attention to themes that come up repeatedly on the site. As much as any stated corporate values, the words companies choose to describe themselves are telling. Do you want to work at a place where people are driven to excellence, or does that make you feel tired? Do you like the idea of working with people who consider their coworkers family, or do you need more distance between your job and your personal life? Of course, organizations use hyperbole when talking about themselves...but its often pretty telling hyperbole. 2. Browse Social Media Next, check the companys social media accounts. Visit their Facebook, Google, Instagram, and Twitter pages. This will give you a good sense of how the company wants its consumers to see it. Like or follow the company to get updates. Youll find information you may not have found otherwise. You may also uncover some red flags. If the organization doesnt have a professionally managed social media presence, for example, or if its updated sporadically and inconsistently, they might not be totally in control of their public image. 3. Use LinkedIn LinkedIn company profiles are a good way to find, at a glance, more information on a company youre interested in. Youll be able to see your connections at the company, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics. If you have connections at the co mpany, consider reaching out to them. Not only can they put in a good word for you, but they may also share their perspective on the company and give you tips that will help you ace the interview. As well, take a look at your interviewers LinkedIn profile to get insight into their job and their background. Look for any common links between you. Do you know the same people? Did you go to the same school? Are you part of the same groups, online or off? Those common links could help you establish rapport during the interview process. 4. Get an Interview Edge Consider looking up the company on Glassdoor. Their Interview Questions and Reviews section has a goldmine of information for job seekers. You can find out what candidates for the positions you are interviewing for were asked and get advice on how tough the interview was. Use reviews to help get a sense of company culture. That said, take them with a grain of salt- employees are often most likely to leave reviews when they are unhappy. As you read reviews, look for repeated themes. The more mentions a given subject gets (whether its praise for flexible hours or frustration with senior management) the more likely it is to be accurate. 5. Use Google and Google News Search both Google and Google News for the company name. This can be invaluable. You may find out that the company is expanding into Asia, for instance, or received a round of start-up funding. Or, you may find out that a recent product underperformed or had to be recalled. This knowledge can help shape your responses to interview questions. 6. Tap Your Connections Do you know someone who works at the company? Ask them if they can help. If youre a college grad, ask your career office if they can give you a list of alumni who work there. Then email, send a LinkedIn message, or call and ask for assistance. 7. Get to Know the Industry and Competitors As well as researching the company, it makes sense to review the overall industry. If yo ure interviewing for a job at a mortgage company, for instance, its helpful to be informed about current home ownership trends. Get to know the companys biggest competitors and identify their successes and flaws, too. Insight into the companys industry and rivals are bound to impress interviewers. How to Use This Research During Interviews During a job interview, interviewers ask questions to get to know candidates. But their main goal is to determine if a candidate will be a good fit for the position and company. Your company research will make your responses to questions compelling and show that youll be helpful to their goals and bottom line. Plus, your knowledge will help you give a specific answer if youre asked why youd like to work for the company. You can share details about things you find admirable about the company, its mission, or its culture.