6 Things to Research About a Company Before Your Interview
Company research before an interview tends to get reduced to “read the About Us page,” which barely scratches the surface of what’s actually useful to know. Good research does two things at once: it makes you noticeably more prepared in the room, and it gives you genuine information to decide whether this is somewhere you actually want to work.
Here are six things worth looking into, each for a slightly different reason.
1. What the Company Actually Does, in Specific Detail
This sounds obvious, but many candidates only know the one-line description and struggle when asked a slightly deeper question about the product, service, or business model.
Who their actual customers are
Understanding whether they sell to consumers, businesses, or a specific niche shapes how you frame your own relevant experience.
How they make money, specifically
A genuine understanding of the revenue model demonstrates a level of interest that goes beyond a surface-level glance at the website.
2. Recent News, Funding, or Major Announcements
A quick search for recent news about the company shows you’re engaged with where they are right now, not just their general history.
This also occasionally surfaces layoff news or other concerning signals worth knowing before you accept an offer
3. Employee Reviews on Platforms Like Glassdoor or AmbitionBox
Employee review platforms aren’t perfectly representative, but reading a reasonable sample gives you a sense of recurring themes, both positive and negative.
4. The Background of the Person Interviewing You, If Known in Advance
If you know who you’ll be speaking with, a quick look at their professional background helps you tailor the conversation and find genuine common ground.
Understanding their likely perspective and priorities
A hiring manager from an engineering background asks different questions than one from a product or business background.
Referencing personal details that feel intrusive
Professional background is fair game; anything that feels like deep personal research can come across as unsettling rather than thoughtful.
5. Who Their Main Competitors Are, and What Differentiates Them
Being able to speak to how a company positions itself relative to competitors shows a level of industry awareness that goes beyond the company itself.
“Knowing a company’s competitors isn’t about being able to recite a list. It’s about understanding what specific problem this company believes it solves better than anyone else.”
WorkRightsIndia6. Their Stated Values, and Whether Recent Actions Actually Reflect Them
Most companies publish a set of values or a mission statement. It’s worth reading these, and then checking whether recent news, reviews, or public actions seem consistent with what’s stated.
Quick Reference: What Each Type of Research Tells You
| Research Area | What It Reveals |
|---|---|
| What the company actually does | Shows genuine engagement, beyond a surface glance |
| Recent news and funding | Current trajectory and any recent red flags or positive signals |
| Employee reviews | Recurring cultural patterns, both good and concerning |
| Interviewer’s background | Helps tailor the conversation to their likely perspective |
| Competitors and positioning | Demonstrates broader industry awareness |
| Stated values vs actual behaviour | Whether the culture on paper matches the culture in practice |
What to Do Right Now
- Spend 30-45 minutes before any interview working through these six areas, rather than relying only on the company’s own website.
- Note down two or three specific, genuine questions that emerge from your research, to ask during the interview.
- Pay attention to any mismatches you find between stated values and actual employee experience, since this is useful information either way.
The One Line to Remember
Good company research isn’t really about impressing the interviewer, even though it does that too. It’s about making sure you’re walking into a decision with real information, not just enthusiasm for getting the offer.
This article is for informational purposes only. Publicly available information about companies varies in accuracy and completeness, and should be treated as one input among several when evaluating an opportunity.