How to Research Companies Before Your Interview

Walking into an interview without researching the company is like going on a road trip without a map. You might get somewhere, but you'll look lost the whole time.

Thorough company research shows interviewers you're serious, helps you ask intelligent questions, and—most importantly—helps you decide if you actually want to work there.

Why Company Research Matters

Interviewers can tell immediately if you've done your homework. When you reference specific projects, company values, or recent news, you demonstrate:

• Genuine interest - You're not just applying everywhere
• Preparation - You take this opportunity seriously
• Critical thinking - You understand their business
• Cultural fit - You've considered if you align with their mission

Plus, research helps YOU evaluate if this is the right place for you.

What to Research (The Essential List)

1. Company Basics

Find out:

• What does the company actually do?
• Who are their customers?
• What products/services do they offer?
• How do they make money?
• How big is the company? (employees, revenue)
• Where are they headquartered?
• Are they public or private?

Where to look:

• Company website (About Us, Products)
• LinkedIn company page
• Crunchbase or PitchBook (for startups)
• Wikipedia for larger companies

2. Recent News and Developments

Look for news from the past 3-6 months:

• Product launches
• Funding announcements
• Leadership changes
• Acquisitions or partnerships
• Awards or recognition
• Major client wins
• Challenges or controversies

Where to look:

• Company blog and press releases
• Google News search for company name
• Industry publications (TechCrunch, WSJ, industry blogs)
• Social media (Twitter, LinkedIn posts)

3. Company Culture and Values

Understand:

• What are their stated values?
• What's the work environment like?
• How do employees describe working there?
• What benefits and perks do they offer?
• What's their stance on remote work/flexibility?
• How do they approach DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)?

Where to look:

• Careers page
• Glassdoor reviews (but take with grain of salt)
• Employee posts on LinkedIn
• Company social media
• YouTube videos about the company

4. The Team and Department

Research:

• Who would you be working with?
• Who would be your manager?
• What projects is the team working on?
• How is the department structured?

Where to look:

• LinkedIn (search employees in similar roles)
• Team pages on company website
• Industry conference talks by team members
• GitHub (for tech roles)

5. Competitors and Market Position

Understand:

• Who are their main competitors?
• What makes them different?
• What are their competitive advantages?
• What challenges does the industry face?
• Where does the company rank in their market?

Where to look:

• Industry reports
• Competitor websites
• News articles comparing companies
• Market research reports

6. Financials (For Public Companies)

Look at:

• Revenue growth or decline
• Profitability
• Stock performance (if public)
• Recent earnings reports
• Investor presentations

Where to look:

• Company investor relations page
• Yahoo Finance or Google Finance
• SEC filings (for US public companies)
• Quarterly earnings calls (transcripts)

How to Use Your Research in the Interview

In Your Answers

Weave company knowledge naturally into your responses:

Weak: "I want to work in marketing."

Strong: "I'm excited about this marketing role because I've followed your recent rebrand campaign on social media, and the data-driven approach you took—particularly how you A/B tested messaging across different demographics—aligns perfectly with how I think about marketing strategy."

In Your Questions

Ask informed questions that show you've done research:

Generic: "What does the company do?"

Informed: "I saw that you recently expanded into the healthcare vertical. How is that initiative going, and would this role be involved in that expansion?"

When Explaining Why You Want the Role

Weak: "You're a great company and this seems like a good opportunity."

Strong: "I'm drawn to this role for three specific reasons: First, your mission to make education accessible resonates with my background in teaching. Second, I'm impressed by your recent launch of the mobile app—the user reviews show you're solving real problems. Third, your emphasis on continuous learning and your engineering blog show a culture of growth that I want to be part of."

The Night Before: Final Research Checklist

Review:

• [ ] Recent news (past week)
• [ ] Interviewer LinkedIn profiles
• [ ] Job description (re-read it)
• [ ] Company's mission statement
• [ ] Your prepared questions
• [ ] Notes on why you want THIS role
• [ ] Specific examples of their work you admire

Prepare:

• [ ] 2-3 specific things you admire about the company
• [ ] 5-7 thoughtful questions to ask
• [ ] How your experience connects to their challenges
• [ ] Examples of how you'd add value

Red Flags to Watch For

While researching, pay attention to warning signs:

Financial red flags:

• Recent layoffs or hiring freezes
• Declining revenue
• Loss of major clients
• Funding difficulties

Culture red flags:

• Consistently negative Glassdoor reviews (focus on patterns, not individual complaints)
• High employee turnover
• Vague or corporate-speak values
• Lack of diversity in leadership

Business red flags:

• Unclear business model
• Legal troubles or scandals
• Losing market share to competitors
• Outdated products/technology

These don't automatically disqualify a company, but they're worth asking about in the interview.

Smart Questions Based on Your Research

About Recent News

"I read that you just raised a Series B round. How will that funding impact the team's priorities over the next year?"

"I saw your CEO's recent interview about expanding internationally. Is that something this role would be involved with?"

About the Product

"I've been using your app for the past month. I love the [specific feature], but I noticed [specific pain point]. Is improving that on the product roadmap?"

About the Team

"I noticed on LinkedIn that several people on the team have backgrounds in [industry]. How has that shaped the team's approach to [relevant challenge]?"

About Strategy

"Your main competitor recently launched [feature]. How are you thinking about differentiation in that area?"

About Culture

"Your careers page emphasizes [specific value]. Can you give me an example of how that shows up in day-to-day work?"

Research Resources Cheat Sheet

Must-check sources:

1. Company website (About, Blog, Careers)
2. LinkedIn company page
3. Recent news (Google News)
4. Glassdoor (for culture insights)
5. Interviewer's LinkedIn profiles

For deeper research: 6. Industry publications 7. Competitor websites 8. Investor presentations (if public) 9. YouTube (company videos, employee talks) 10. GitHub or product forums (for tech roles) 11. Customer reviews (G2, Capterra, etc.) 12. Podcast interviews with leadership

Time-Saving Research Strategy

15-Minute Quick Research (Minimum):

1. Read company About page (3 min)
2. Scan recent news (5 min)
3. Look at interviewer LinkedIn profiles (3 min)
4. Browse Glassdoor reviews (4 min)

1-Hour Thorough Research (Recommended):

1. Deep dive on company website (15 min)
2. Recent news and press releases (15 min)
3. Read Glassdoor and employee reviews (10 min)
4. Research interviewers and team (10 min)
5. Study competitors (10 min)

3+ Hours Deep Research (For Final Rounds):

• Everything above, plus:
• Try the product/service extensively
• Read investor presentations
• Watch company videos and talks
• Read industry analysis
• Study relevant case studies
• Connect with current employees

Common Research Mistakes

Mistake 1: Only Reading the About Page

The About page is just the starting point. Dig deeper into recent news, the blog, and employee perspectives.

Mistake 2: Not Researching the Interviewers

Always look up who you're meeting with. It helps you tailor questions and find connection points.

Mistake 3: Memorizing Facts Without Context

Don't just memorize that they have "500 employees." Understand what that means for their growth stage and team structure.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Negative Information

Don't only focus on positives. Understand challenges too—it makes your questions more thoughtful.

Mistake 5: Researching Too Far in Advance

Do most research 1-2 days before so the information is fresh. News from a month ago might be outdated.

How to Take Notes

Create a simple research doc:

Company Overview:

• Core business:
• Revenue/size:
• Recent news:

Why I'm Interested:

• Reason 1:
• Reason 2:
• Reason 3:

Questions to Ask: 1. 2. 3.

Talking Points:

• How my experience connects:
• Value I can add:
• Relevant examples:

Key People:

• [Interviewer 1 name]: [background notes]
• [Interviewer 2 name]: [background notes]

The Bottom Line

Company research isn't about impressing interviewers with obscure facts. It's about:

1. Understanding the opportunity - Is this the right fit for you?
2. Asking better questions - Get the information you need to decide
3. Demonstrating genuine interest - Show you're serious about this specific role
4. Finding connections - Identify how your background adds value here

Spend at least an hour researching. It's the easiest way to stand out from candidates who show up unprepared.

When you can speak knowledgeably about their recent product launch, reference a challenge mentioned in a recent interview, or ask an informed question about their market position, you immediately elevate yourself above the generic candidate.

Your research won't just help you get the offer. It'll help you decide if you should accept it.

Ready to practice discussing company research in interviews? Use Reherse's AI coach to refine your answers and improve your delivery. Start practicing →