Research the Company

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:

• Research a company in order to prepare for an interview.
• Evaluate the company’s culture and benefits.
• Assess the company’s alignment with your values and priorities.

You’ve worked hard writing resumes and cover letters, applied to a number of companies, and finally heard back that you have an interview. Congratulations! Now you need to get ready to impress the company with your experience and skills.

Preparing for an interview can seem like a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be scary. In this module, the Leeds School of Business, a top 20 business school, helps walk you through the steps to prepare, including research and perfecting your pitch.

Ready? Let’s go!

Research the Company

“Why do you want to work here?” It’s a common question. But it can lead to some anxiety, especially if you’re not prepared for it. You know all about the position itself, but do you really know the company? 

The Leeds School of Business calls out several places to go on the web to help with thorough research. 

• The company website
• Web search
• Career and networking sites

The company website. Reviewing the company's website can give you a great overview of its mission, values, goals, and history. What are its long-term plans? What does it believe in? What kinds of products or services does it offer? The company website can also provide insight into how the company aligns with your values—an interview is a two-way street, after all! You learn about assessing a company’s values and culture later in this module. 

Web search. A quick web search about the company provides you with the latest news and updates about the company’s performance. What are some industry trends affecting the company? If it’s public, how is its stock performing? When was the last time it was in the news and what was the news about? Does it keep a blog or host events? 

These first two levels of research provide you with a broad overview of the company’s structure, values, and outward appearance. 

Other Ways to Look at the Company

Look at the reviews. Take a look at how people review the company online. Reviewing a company’s profile on career and networking sites can give you an inside look at a company. These career and networking sites can include articles written by the connections who currently work there. Some can also provide insight into the typical interview process, common interview questions, salary averages, and most importantly, how current and past employees feel about the company. 

There will most likely be both positive and negative reviews for every company, but keep an eye out for trends that start to emerge and how you feel about those trends. 

Connect with the company online. Many companies have an online presence, through social media, as well as a profile on career and networking sites. These channels often focus on the latest news and offer a glimpse at the company’s culture. It’s a good idea to follow them and check in periodically throughout your preparation.

Personal connections. If you know someone who currently works, or used to work for, this company, make sure you spend time talking to them. This is the best possible kind of research—this person knows exactly what it is like to work for the company. Set up an informational interview to learn about the best and worst parts of working there (and remember to take notes). 

Almost there. The research so far should give you some insight into why you would want to work at the company. To fully answer this question, however, you should make sure of one more thing—that the company meets your values and priorities.

How Does the Company Resonate with You?

It’s important to remember that the interview is a two-way interaction. Yes, they’re interviewing you to see if your skills and experience meet the needs of the role. Just as important, you are interviewing them to see if the role and working environment can support your unique skills, abilities, and life circumstances. 

The Leeds School of Business recommends you take some time to decide what’s important to you in terms of culture, benefits, and work-life integration. Then rank these factors on a scale of must-have to nice-to-have. You might discover that some items on this list are a deal-breaker for you, while others are less important and you’re willing to compromise. 

Consider the following questions and don’t hesitate to make up your own.

Culture

• Does the company support continuous learning, with an education stipend, mentorship program, or a way to learn more skills by taking on special projects?
• Is there a strict time to be in the office or are the hours flexible?
• Does the organization publish information on its diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and volunteering efforts? More importantly, does the information you've uncovered in your research support these claims?

Benefits

• Does the company cover medical insurance?
• Is there a retirement and company match program?

Work-Life Integration

• Is telecommuting an option?
• Is there a clear time-off policy? Does it offer paid parental leave?
• Are employees expected to answer emails in the evening, on weekends, or (eek) on vacation?

There are no right or wrong answers here, but a clear way to assess whether the position and the company meets your skills and needs. For example, a position that requires a lot of travel versus an in-office role can largely depend on the lifestyle you want to lead, your current skillset, and the skills you want to develop.

“So, Why Do You Want to Work Here?”

You may not find all the information you’re looking for online, but this is a good start. With this research, you should be prepared to answer that all-important question: Why do you want to work at the company?