Researching a company before a job interview

Before attending a job interview, it is always a good idea to carry out some research about the company. For starters, the interviewer might ask you what you know about the company. They may ask something like “What do you know about us?” or “Can you tell me what you know about the history of this company?” Even if they don’t ask you directly you can always fit what you have learned into some of your answers. 

Interviewers will see that you have made an effort to research the company thus you are taking the interview seriously and are genuinely interested in working there. 

When carrying out your research you should make sure you use good sources such as:

• The company’s website 
• Any official press releases 
• The company’s social media sites 
• Talking to current employees 

Here are some areas you should research: 

About the Company and its History 

You should find out: 

• When the company was founded and who by 
• Who owns the company? 
• Where the company was founded
• How many offices does the company have and in how many countries? 
• How many employees are there? 

What is it exactly the company does? 

You should know what products the company sells or what services it provides. How do they do this exactly? Who are the biggest competitors? You may also want to research the industry to find out some key information that may be relevant (they might even ask you if you know about this).

Who are the employees and what do they do? Ideally, you should focus on the department you are joining. 

Who are the company’s customers? You can impress the interviewer by demonstrating an understanding of the business’ customers and the type of service they offer them.

The company’s culture 

What is it like working for the company? Find about any events for employees, any opportunities offered and any other activities that the company and its employees are involved with.

What is the atmosphere like in the office? You can find this out either from the company website or on websites such as Glassdoor. 

Mission Statement, Values and Ethos

You should find out about the company’s mission statement and its values. This is what the company hopes to achieve and the direction it intends to take. Companies like employees to understand their ethos and mission statement and interviewers will be looking out for applicants who show knowledge of this. This information can usually be found on the company’s website. It may be included in the ‘About’ section or they may have a specific page dedicated to talking about this.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CRE) 

What charities does the company support? Do they do any fundraising? How do they support them? Do they carry out any philanthropic work? If the company supports charities or causes that you are also a supporter of you could mention this during the interview. It is very likely you will be asked ‘Why do you want to work here?’