Article Summary: Prepare for your job interview with confidence by mastering the question, ‘What do you know about our company?’ Discover effective research tools and strategies to impress potential employers, articulate your findings, and stand out from other candidates. Learn how to organize your response and ask insightful questions to showcase your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role. Elevate your interview skills and make a lasting impression with our comprehensive research guidelines.Prepare for your job interview with confidence by mastering the question, ‘What do you know about our company?’ Discover effective research tools and strategies to impress potential employers, articulate your findings, and stand out from other candidates. Learn how to organize your response and ask insightful questions to showcase your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role. Elevate your interview skills and make a lasting impression with our comprehensive research guidelines.
One of the most common questions you might encounter in your job interview is, “What do you know about our company?” This question doesn’t just test your research skills, but also shows potential employers that you’re proactive, well-prepared, and invested in the opportunity.
Understanding how to research a company can set you apart from other candidates.
Below, you will find the research tools and strategies you can use to prepare for your interview, such as:
- Resources to help you thoroughly research a prospective employer
- Suggestions for a structured way to gather and organize the information
- Helping you assimilate the results so you can use this knowledge to impress your interviewers
Let’s dive in and discover how you can turn a common interview question into a powerful competitive advantage.
| What to Research | What You Are Trying To Learn | Resources & Tools |
| Company Overview | Understand the company’s mission, history, vision, and values. | Company website About Us SectionAnnual reportsLinkedIn business profile pageLocal library databasesGlassdoor |
| Industry Position | Learn about the company’s standing in the industry and its competitors. | Free resources like Yahoo FinanceIndustry reports from online sources like Statista and IBIS WorldTrustpilot |
| Recent News | Stay updated on the latest news and developments related to the company. | News websites: Google News, Yahoo News, Feedly Flipboard and Apple News Business news sources: Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Business InsiderCompany’s website news postsSocial media posts on LinkedIn |
| Customers, products & services | Review the company’s offerings of products, services and customers. | Company websiteCompany blogs and white papersTrustpilot |
| Financial Performance | Review the company’s financial health and recent performance. | Financial statements, stock market data, D&B Reports and SECs EDGAR DatabaseFinancial news platforms like Reuters, CNBC and MarketWatchCrunchbaseAnnual reports |
| Company Management | Research the company’s leadership and the people that will be interviewing you | Company website. If you cannot find a page of the leadership team under any of the tabs, search the “company name” and “leader team” on your internet browser. LinkedIn profiles |
| Company Culture | Gain insights into the work environment and company culture. | Employee reviews on sites like GlassdoorCustomer/product reviews on social media, directory websites and Bing and Google Business Profile pagesNews aggregators like Google News and Feedly |
After You Complete Your Research, Then What?
Research is just the beginning of addressing the question, “What do you know about our company?” It’s important to crisply articulate what you have learned.
After you’ve completed your research:
- Decide what aspects of your research you want to incorporate into your answer to the question, “What do you know about our company?”
- Then, develop a 45-second or 1-minute (~ approximately 150 words) written answer to the question.
- Practice saying it several times until it flows naturally (practicing in front of a mirror or with another person may help)
Once you have decided what information you want to share, remembering and communicating it to the interviewer may still feel like a lot. Breaking it down into smaller communication points will help you recall your responses.
Here are some suggestions for organizing your response
Are you overwhelmed by the amount of research you need to share in the interview? If so, you can set aside two areas from the chart: your research about company culture and who is interviewing you.
- When it’s your turn to ask questions during the interview, you can ask about company culture (for instance, “What is the most common reason people say they like working here?”).
- Next, you can inquire about the person interviewing you. (“I noticed on LinkedIn that you have worked for company X number of years. In what ways has the company changed since you have been here?”)
Based on our chart, that will leave five other research areas to communicate during the interview. To keep it concise, summarize each section into 1-2 sentences. Or, if you prefer, number your key takeaways. This way, you’ll remember more easily that you wanted to cover X number of specific items.
By taking the time to research and understand the company, you equip yourself with the knowledge to provide an informed and insightful response, and you will be more confident and set yourself apart from other candidates. Employers appreciate when candidates go above and beyond to prepare for an interview with their company.
Ultimately, the effort you put into the question “What do you know about our company?” will show the interviewer how prepared you were for the interview, how your knowledge of the company matches up with how you can add value as an employee, and how your work ethic and research skills prepared you for the job interview.
Keep going. You got this!
About the Author
Andrea Tropeano has coached thousands of people toward career success. She supports students, professionals and leaders in removing obstacles that are impeding positive desired results.
Her expertise focuses on addressing career confusion, job search, interview preparation, resumes, LinkedIn profiles, leadership development, professional coaching, and ADHD-if that plays a part in one’s career story.
Andrea received her Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of New Haven.
She is a board-certified coach specializing in career, life, ADHD, and leadership success, holding credentials as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), a Board-Certified Coach (BCC) with the Center of Credentialing & Education, and an ADHD-Certified Coach (ACCG) through the ADD Coach Academy.
