Looking for more ways to prepare? Read our article on the most common interview questions.
How to Research a Company:
Our complete, step-by-step guide on how to successfully research a company.
Researching a company.
Talk to friends or colleagues.
If you are lucky enough to know someone who has firsthand experience with the company or institution you are applying to, find out more from them.
Visit their website.
By reading through the website of the place you'd like to work for, you'll be able to ascertain many things. You'll be able to gauge the level of professionalism, get an idea of the company culture, and even find out who works there.
However, be aware that whatever is published on the website will be biased. A company or institution could, for example, claim to be ethical, innovative, and efficient, but their customer reviews might tell a different story.
Visit their social media pages.
By visiting an institution's social media and LinkedIn pages, you'll be able to get a better grasp of who they are, what projects and initiatives they've run, and also the type of people they work with. Aside from customer reviews that might be found on these pages, be aware that the company or institution still controls the type of content they post here, so it's highly subjective.
Try their products or services.
Testing out the company or institution's offerings should give you an idea of the kind of work you might be expected to do once you are hired. Engaging with the company via email or phone will help you form an opinion on the brand and overall customer service.
Use Google for an online search.
When you Google the company or institution, you'll find information not available on the website or social media pages. Skimming through news articles and customer and employee reviews will help you gain a better perspective of the company or institution. Reading through unbiased articles will be useful in identifying any potential red flags.
Research a Company Before Your Interview.
Researching a company can be useful if you want to impress the hiring manager or whoever is doing the interview. When asked "Why should we hire you?" you can give an authoritative answer with your views on the company culture, products or services, work ethic, or company values.
For your own personal reference, researching the company will give you an idea of the workplace environment, employee satisfaction rates, working hours, community projects, advancement programs, and potential for growth.