How to Research the Company Before Your Job Interview

Research the company before your job interview. Know what information you need to find out and how to use it to win in your job interview.

Steps

1. Start with the company website. This is usually the single best resource. Scroll through the whole website. Note down details that you can use to develop good interview questions to ask in your interview as well as prepare relevant answers to interview questions.
2. If the company does not have its own website go to other internet sites that provide extensive information about companies and industries. Simply type in the company name and use the different search engines to go to any sites that refer to the company.
3. Go to competitor websites to get information on developments in the company's industry or sector.
4. Go to company specific message boards. Corporate message boards give the opinions of current and former employees and give a different perspective on the company, although it is wise to check a number of postings rather than taking just one posting as valid information.
5. Use public libraries as another good resource for company information. Look up the company in the business periodical index to find articles in business publications and industry trade magazines.
6. Research details on the company products and services. Answer typical interview questions such as "Why should we employ you?" intelligently and thoroughly by emphasizing why the company's products and services interest you and how you can add value to them.
7. Note down the company mission, vision and values statements. This tells you about the company culture. Use this information to highlight why you are a good fit in your job interview.
8. Find out the company's strategic goals, special projects and new developments. Use this information to prepare insightful questions about the direction of the company to ask in your interview.
9. Take your research with you to the interview. Let the interviewer see that you have taken the time and trouble to find out about the company beforehand.

Tips

• If you cannot find information on the web about the company make sure you are using the full and correct company name.
• If the company is part of a larger organization, use the holding company name when doing your research and then dig down to find out about the company.