6 Things to Find Out About a Company Before Your Job Interview

It’s more than just browsing the “About Us” page. Researching a company before your job interview can set you apart and help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.

By Kimberly Chang on 2023-11-27 at 7:12 AM

Updated on 2024-10-07 at 9:00 AM

6 Key Insights You Need to Know About a Company Before Your Job Interview

Preparation is key when it comes to job interviews. Just as hiring managers thoroughly evaluate candidates, you should be doing your research on the company to ensure a mutual fit. Understanding the company’s culture, values, and recent developments doesn’t just help you impress employers—it can also help you determine if the company aligns with your professional goals and personal values.

To help you put your best foot forward, here are six critical things to learn about a company before stepping into your next interview.

1. The Company’s Mission and Values

One of the easiest and most important things to start off with is learning about the company’s mission and values—this provides a glimpse into its purpose and what drives its team. It’s also pretty easy to do. You can begin by visiting the company website and combing through their About section. 

For a more media-rich experience, Hiredly encourages employers to fill out their company profiles with clear descriptions of what they do and include photos and videos. This is so job seekers like you can have a clearer picture of their culture.

Once you have a better idea of a company’s values, see if they align with your own principles and decide whether they fit your personal goals and way of working.

hiredly company profile

2. The Company’s Clients, Products, and Services

Knowing what the company offers is crucial to understanding what the role requires from you. Most employers will have this information available on the front page of their websites. 

Besides their website and company profiles, you can also check out their social media accounts or e-commerce websites they sell their products or services on.

Understanding how the company markets themselves, as well as the tone they use when communicating their products and services, is a good look into what they’re all about.

This knowledge can help you grasp what makes the company unique and prepare you to discuss how your skills align with their offerings during the interview.

3. Recent Company News

To make sure you come across as a well-informed candidate, take a step further by looking up any recent news or activities the company has been involved in. 

Companies will usually have a section on their websites especially for press releases.

A clever way to make sure you’re always up-to-date with the company is signing for their newsletters. That way you have the most recent and important news delivered straight to your inbox from the company themselves!

Discussing recent news or accomplishments can impress interviewers by showing that you are engaged with the company’s current situation and future direction. It’s a great way to build rapport and make a memorable impression.

Use everything you learned to make it clear to the employer that you are invested in the opportunity, and they’ll be sure to appreciate your effort. 

If you haven’t already, use our guide to find out what are the 11 most common interview questions and how to best answer them here.

what to do when you join a new company

4. Learn About Key Decision-Makers and Interviewers

Interviews are at most about 1 hour long and that’s not a lot of time to establish an immediate connection for some people. Skip puzzling introductions and do a quick background check on the key players of the company, especially the interviewers you will be speaking with.

These key players (such as C-level executives, managers, and directors) are pretty easy to search on LinkedIn. Find out their area of expertise and aspects of their work that make them tick.

As for your interviewers, it can be as simple as searching them via their work email. If upon receiving your job interview invitation, you aren’t informed who the interviewers will be, just send them a polite reply asking who you’ll be speaking to. 

A quick search of them on LinkedIn will help you narrow down if there are any common interests you share and can bring up to break the ice. If nothing else, knowing who you will be speaking with prior to the interview can also ease any nervousness.

5. Testimonials and Employee Reviews

Remember that when you’re researching employers, it isn’t just to find ways to impress them – you’re also looking for potential red flags. To determine whether the company is a great place to work, try your best to sniff out what the actual employees have to say about them.

You can look up online reviews on websites such as Glassdoor or check for mutual connections on LinkedIn for an honest opinion. 

Strike up a conversation and see what their experiences are like. Be on the lookout for key details pertaining to what you’re looking for in a workplace, such as work-life balance, opportunities for learning and growth or great colleague relationships. 

Employee feedback can offer an unfiltered view of the company’s strengths and challenges. It helps you decide if the company is the right environment for your career growth, work-life balance, and long-term goals.

company culture in malaysia

6. The Industry Landscape and the Company’s Competition

Learning about the employer’s competitors is a good way to sense the position of the company in the industry. Compare the employer to their competitors to see what they have in common, what the employer’s strengths and weaknesses are, as well as what they’re doing to set themselves apart from the competition.

Are they doing better against the competition or are they trying to catch up? Use the information you find to gauge if the company is heading towards success and even better, figure out what you can offer to help them get there.

This knowledge enables you to position yourself as a valuable candidate who understands the market dynamics and can contribute to the company’s competitive advantage. It also helps you identify areas where you might add value, making you a more attractive hire.

Want to connect with other ambitious professionals and expand your industry knowledge? Join our Young Leaders Community and stay ahead in your career with access to exclusive insights and opportunities.

things to know before joining a new company

Conclusion: Be Prepared to Impress Your Interviewers

Thoroughly researching a company before your interview not only boosts your confidence but also demonstrates your genuine interest in the role. By learning about the company’s mission, recent news, and workplace culture, you’ll be able to tailor your responses and show employers that you are both a great fit and a proactive candidate.


Now that you have all the necessary information, you’re well on your way to impressing the hiring managers and getting that job. 

Explore Hiredly to find opportunities with employers who value what you bring to the table!

By Kimberly Chang on 2023-11-27 at 7:12 AM