The Four Best Ways to Research a Company Before Interviewing

Landing a job interview is not always an easy task. It is a competitive market so you will want to make sure you are fully prepared for your interview in order to secure the job. At SOLTECH, our staffing solutions team are often asked how to research a company before interviewing. Understandably, you want to familiarize yourself with the company to be able to answer any questions during the interview. Here are some tips to help you prepare:

Research the Person (or persons) You’ll be Interviewing With

First, start with looking up the person you are first in contact with, which is likely the recruiter. Getting familiar with what they do and their background is important.

Next, once you find out the name or names of the people you will be interviewing with, head straight to LinkedIn.

See if you have any connections in common with them. Also, look up the company on LinkedIn to see if you know anyone who works there. If you do, reach out to him/her and ask to discuss the hiring process with them.

Ask the person what their favorite things about working there are and what their day-to-day looks like. Obtaining as much insight as possible will give you the upper hand during your interview.

Where to find this information: LinkedIn

Research the Company’s Clients and Services

You may be asked to talk about some of the company’s work, so educating yourself on the clients they serve or services they offer is essential.

Do not be afraid to talk about a certain project that the company did that caught your eye. Discussing an article the company recently published on a topic you follow, or mentioning that the work they did with XYZ is exactly the type of work you hope to contribute.

Where to find this information: Company’s website, specifically their portfolio and blog if applicable, company’s social media accounts

Look at the Company’s Leadership Team and Their Backgrounds

Do you know who is running the company and what companies they have worked for? Not only is this informative to know, but you will also be able to get a sense for the different company cultures they have worked with.

Where to find this information: Company’s website, specifically the “about us” section, Glassdoor

Brief Yourself On the Company’s Financials

It is important to know how strong the company is doing financially. Has the company acquired any others in the past? If the company is not doing well, you may want to reconsider. This could prevent layoffs and having your role be put on pause.

Where to find this information: CrunchBase is a great site to researching the financials and timelines

By doing research using the recommendations above, you will be prepared and more comfortable answering any questions during your interview.