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How to Research a Company Before Your Job Interview

It’s common knowledge that you should research a company before a job interview, but how to go about said research isn’t exactly common sense.

For massive international companies, the amount of information out there can be overwhelming. For small local companies, the problem is often the opposite. Very rarely will you find that a potential employer has the perfect amount of information out there, all neatly presented on its official website.

Below are just a few simple tips for how to approach this essential job search task.

Review the Official Website

Take the time to read the company website and get to know every facet of what they do. Go through the most recent press releases to see what type of image they’re representing to the public or potential business clients. If there’s a company blog, read the more recent posts to get a sense of the company voice and recent events.

Using the official site, take note of the basics: the history, size, location(s), number of employees, corporate values, mission statements, corporate responsibility initiatives and stated plans for the future. Pay attention to any recent product or service launches and strategic changes.

Browse Social Media Profiles

Look at the employer’s Facebook and Instagram profiles. These profiles are often used to offer insights on inner workings, day-to-day life, and impacts on people outside the company. Checking recent content posted to social media ought to provide you with a better sense of the company culture and vibe.

LinkedIn is a great spot to review profiles of your interviewers. Try to get a sense of their position in the organization, how long they’ve been with the company, connections they share with you, and any other details of note.

Consider the Industry (and the Competition)

It’s a good idea to get a sense of the industry in general, particularly if you don’t have much history in it. A great way to do this is to investigate the company’s competition.

You don’t have to do a ton of research here. Just try to get a sense of the ‘big picture,” so you can talk about the industry with confidence if the opportunity presents itself.

Look for Any Red Flags

Let’s be real: You cannot assume all companies will be an incredible place to work. In some companies, lower-level staff members are treated with contempt by management. In some companies, the staff is severely underpaid compared to the average salaries for the position. Before walking in or logging on for an interview, it’s a good idea to know these kinds of major drawbacks in advance. If you find anything especially concerning, you absolutely should go ahead and mention it during the interview.

Look at the employer reviews on Glassdoor or other business websites where current and former workers can chime in with anonymous reviews. Look at comments on websites like Google Reviews and Yelp. Perform a Google News to uncover any recent negative press.

We Can Take the Guesswork Out of Your Next Application Process

At Career Concepts, we connect job seekers to a job opportunity and then provide them with all kinds of information about a potential employer. Please contact us today to find out how we can help you.

Blog published date

Sep 21, 2021
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