How to research a company before a job interview

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

So you've spent hours perfecting your resume and cover letter and it's finally paid off with an interview. You feel excited about the prospect of getting a job. But as you think about it a feeling of dread starts to surface and you begin to question yourself. I don't know anything about the company. What if I can't answer a question or say the wrong thing and bomb the interview, wrecking my chances?

Well it's time to squash those negative feelings and start researching the company. Just make sure you don't overwhelm yourself and get stressed out trying to remember every little detail you've learnt.

There are two reasons to do some pre interview research. The first is to find out if this is the sort of company you want to work for. The second is find information that will allow you to talk about the company and show enthusiasm about coming to work for them.

Website

There's no wrong place to start looking but a good first step is to check out their website for some basic information. The About Us section, News section, or Products section are great for information on what the company does, what services and products they offer, recent changes in the company, and the locations of their stores or offices.

This isn't the only reason to read a company's website. People ask employers questions that can be answered by just taking the time to read their website. You show your lack of research when you ask a question that can be answered so easily. So check their website first for any questions you have.

Now you could leave it at this stage or you could dig deeper and find information that will really help you match your skills and experience to the job. To do this you need to expand your search. What social media accounts does the company have? Have they appeared in news articles? Do they write a blog? What comes up when you type their name into Google? These are all good sources when looking for more information.

Social Media

Just like an employer checks your social media accounts to get a better idea of who you are. You should check their social media accounts to get a better sense of who they are. Look at how they interact with their community, and have a look at the type of content they post. Do they only promotion themselves, or do they engage with their community answering questions and resolving complaints. Pictures and videos can give you an idea of the values of the company, as well as the office culture. Does it look very professional and busy, or is it a more relaxed workplace.

Current or Former Employees

Don't stop your search at Facebook or Twitter. Have a look at their LinkedIn profile as well. It's a professional social media platform so the information or news you find will be related to the business. The advantage of LinkedIn is the people it can put you in touch with. If you know the names of the people who'll be interviewing you, look them up. The information they've listed will hopefully give you an insight into their position or what they value as an employer. This sort of information will be very useful in the interview.

Company & Industry News

If you're looking to impress the employer it's worth reading related news articles or their company blog if they have one. From these sources you can gain an insight into what the company cares about and what direction their heading. Learning about some of the activities the company is involved with gives you the opportunity to discuss how you could assist them, making you more valuable to the employer.

It's important to also research the industry the company belongs to. You'll learn current news and trends for the industry, which companies are their current or future competitors, and what their competitors are doing. Compare this information with what you've already gathered about the company you're interviewing with, and you'll be able to find things that make them stand out from their competition. Information that's useful when describing why you like their company.

It may seem like a lot of effort, and it may not seem worth it to you. But knowing exactly what you're talking about in an interview is worth the effort. Add examples of the information you've learnt into your answers and show how enthusiastic you are about coming to work for their company. Do your research and you'll be able to confidently and convincingly answer when asked, Why do you want to work for this company?

Have you got a research tip that I've missed, share it in the comment section below.

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