Do you have an interview coming up soon? Not sure where to start on researching a company? 

Looking at the company’s website and understanding what they are doing in advance of your interview should be a given, but you should do more than that?

Looking deeper into the company as you prepare for your interview will make you better prepared to answer their questions and showcase yourself as a strong candidate.

So what else should you be learning about your future potential employer?

The culture and values of the enterprise

Knowing what the company does is not enough, but also why they are doing it. Doing so should give you an indication of what day-to-day work there is going to be like and enable you to show your suitability for the role with confidence.

Think about your own values and how they align with the companies and in your interview bring those examples to the fore.

Be sure to check them out not only on their website but also on their social channels.

They value the skills and the experience

This can be linked back to your research on the culture and values of the company, and information can be gathered from places like job posting, team and career pages, and testimonials from employees.

Understanding what they are looking for in their employees allows you to position yourself as the best candidate available when you are in the interview.

It will also help you to determine if they value skills and experience in people you would like to work with.

The key people, including the person who interviews you

Knowing a little about the leadership team of the company and whoever will be on your team can be helpful in your preparation. Finding out more about the types of roles they have previously had and the companies they have worked for might help you understand better how they have grown and shaped the company you are applying for.

There is also a chance that you might encounter one of them at the interview stage so having an idea of who they are will be helpful.

Similarly, looking into the interviewing person(s) and their background should give you an advantage and can help you to better connect and spark conversation.

Recent news and enterprise events

Has the company been in the news recently? Are there any new products or services that the company has launched? Has it recently received any awards or recognitions?

Showing you are on top of the company ‘s news, trends and events will give a great impression in the interview and also give you the opportunity to ask some great questions about your growth plans, products, services, pitfalls overcoming (if the news was negative).

Look to see if they’ve got a press release section on their website and look at articles in the online trade press.

Who they work with, the products and services they provide

Understanding their customers, their customer base, what they’re offering, etc. will show the interviewer you already understand the kind of work you ‘re going to do when you join and who and you’re going to be more prepared for your interview.

Typically this information can be found in the form of client testimonials, case studies, research on their website, as well as potentially in news and industry publications.

In the interview, you can use this information to your advantage to show who you may be targeting, or what you can offer to the clients they already have.

Researching all of these will not, of course, guarantee success, but in our experience, they will help to distinguish you from the candidates who have not looked beyond the ‘about us’ page of the company.

Interviewers like to see candidates who’ve done that little bit more; it shows enthusiasm, initiative, and a willingness to do well, all the qualities they ‘re going to look for.

Good luck in your next interview!