What You Should Research Before Any Job Interview

Interviews aren't just about what a company wants to learn about you. They're also about what you want to learn about the company, and what you both want to learn about the prospect of working together. To answer these questions, you need to know a few things about the company before the interview. You'd expect them to read your resume before inviting you in. Have you read theirs? Wondering what to research before an interview? Here are five things to find out before the interview.

1) Company Mission Statement

If you're wondering how to research a company before an interview, one of the easiest ways to get the big picture about a company is to get it straight from them. Almost every company website features an official mission statement from a company wherein they describe its purpose and vision as a company. It's usually found through the “About Us” or “Who We Are” links at the bottom of the company's main landing page.

These statements are often aspirational in tone, which will give you a feel not only for what the company does, but the attitude of those who run it, how they'd like the company to be perceived, and the direction they want to take the business in.

2) Products and Services

What does the company produce and/or what services do they provide? Look into their product lines and learn what their flagship products are, as well as any other offerings. See if their products have a history of versions or models. The same goes for their services.

Your interviewer will expect you to know these talking points already and will take it as a sign of your interest and preparedness.

3) Target Markets

A company's target market is one of its most defining qualities. Gaining an understanding of who the company is trying to cater to will tell you an enormous amount about why the company works the way they do and what they hope to achieve.

Consider not only who uses their products and services, but who buys them. For example, if the company makes toys for children, you might think their products are designed to appeal to them, which their main messaging will indicate. This is true. But it's also true that they're designed to appeal to their parents, who make the purchases, and while this aspect may not be given as much emphasis, it may be even more important to understand how the business operates.

The same dynamic applies in many situations, whether the company primarily caters to other businesses, the government, or directly to consumers.

4) Company Values and Culture

You don't have to guess what kinds of employees a company wants. Their website will tell you openly.

Similar to the Company Mission Statement, most companies also have an official Company Values statement (this may also appear under alternate titles like “Who We Are” or “Culture”). These are value statements approved by the company leaders that describe the qualities of the kind of people they want to hire.

As with the Company Mission Statement, recognize that these statements are reflections of reality, aspirations, and how the company wishes its employees to be perceived. Consider the statements from all these angles to get the full picture. In any case, it tells you exactly what recruiters hope to see in candidates, giving you opportunities to know what about you will be of most interest to them and what it might be like to work there.

These statements are a great example of why you should research a company before an interview. Going into an interview without reading them is like trying to play a sport without knowing the rules, even though they're readily available. Interviews aren't supposed to be about guesswork. They're supposed to be about having conversations and looking for an authentically good fit for you and the employer.

5) Key Players

As part of your job interview prep, look into not only the company but the leaders who work there. Who are the head decision makers at the company? Learn the names of the CEO, President, or other influential employees and a bit about their history. If possible do the same for the head of the department you're interested in.

This information may be offered on the company website, in news releases (especially for larger companies), or through LinkedIn. In particular, see if they've made any public statements or published any writings related to the business (such as product announcements, research articles, or statements to shareholders), which can help you get familiar with their work.

This will help you understand the company better and may give you talking points with the interviewer. It will also help you be conversant and make it easy for the interviewer to imagine you working there – you're already talking about other employees and their work.

When it's appropriate, mention that you read up on the people who work at the company to the interviewer, which will be appreciated in a positive light. Avoid the mistake of hiding this research or surprising someone who just entered the room with your knowledge about them, which may come off as stalkerish. Instead, if someone comes up that you've familiarized yourself with before you've had a chance to mention it, allow them to be introduced normally, and when that's finished, express your pleasure at meeting them in person and mention that you've read a bit about them on LinkedIn or another source. They'll likely appreciate your knowledge of their work, and it may give you something to talk about right away. Sometimes they'll even feel like a bit of a celebrity.

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