Company Research for Job Interviews: Complete Guide
"Why do you want to work here?" is coming. This guide shows you exactly how to research any company so you can answer confidently, ask smart questions, and decide if this job is really right for you.
📊 Why This Matters
47% of interview failures happen because candidates didn't research the company well enough. Hiring managers can tell immediately who did their homework.
The Research Framework
Great company research answers five questions:
What does the company do?
Products, services, business model, customers
How is the company doing?
Growth, challenges, recent news, financials
What's the culture like?
Values, reviews, leadership style, work-life balance
Why does this role exist?
Team structure, challenges, what success looks like
Why might I want to work here?
Your genuine connection to mission, product, or opportunity
Where to Research: The Complete List
🌐 Official Company Sources
Company Website
- • About page (mission, history, leadership)
- • Careers page (culture, values, benefits)
- • Blog/newsroom (recent updates)
- • Products/services pages
- • Investor relations (if public)
Social Media
- • LinkedIn company page
- • Twitter/X for company voice
- • YouTube for culture videos
- • Instagram for behind-the-scenes
📰 News & Media
General News
- • Google News (search company name)
- • Industry publications
- • TechCrunch, Business Insider, etc.
- • Local business journals
What to Look For
- • Recent funding or acquisitions
- • Product launches
- • Leadership changes
- • Layoffs or restructuring
- • Awards or recognition
👥 Employee Perspectives
Review Sites
- • Glassdoor - Reviews, salaries, interviews
- • Blind - Anonymous employee discussions
- • Comparably - Culture and compensation
- • Levels.fyi - Tech compensation
- • Indeed - Reviews and salaries
People Research
- • LinkedIn: Current employees
- • LinkedIn: Your interviewer(s)
- • LinkedIn: Team members
- • Former employees in your network
💰 Financial & Business Info
Public Companies
- • SEC filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- • Earnings calls (transcripts)
- • Yahoo Finance, Seeking Alpha
- • Investor presentations
Private Companies
- • Crunchbase (funding, investors)
- • PitchBook (if you have access)
- • Owler (revenue estimates)
- • AngelList (startup profiles)
What to Research: Detailed Checklist
📋 Your Pre-Interview Research Checklist
The Basics
- ☐ What products/services do they offer?
- ☐ Who are their customers? (B2B, B2C, enterprise, SMB)
- ☐ What's their business model? How do they make money?
- ☐ How big is the company? (employees, revenue, locations)
- ☐ When was it founded? Key milestones?
Leadership & People
- ☐ Who are the founders/CEO/key leaders?
- ☐ What's their leadership style? (interviews, podcasts)
- ☐ Who will interview you? What's their background?
- ☐ What does the team you'd join look like?
Recent News & Trends
- ☐ Any major announcements in the last 6 months?
- ☐ Have they raised funding recently?
- ☐ Any layoffs or restructuring?
- ☐ New product launches or pivots?
- ☐ Industry trends affecting them?
Culture & Values
- ☐ What are their stated values?
- ☐ What do Glassdoor reviews say? (patterns, not outliers)
- ☐ Remote, hybrid, or in-office?
- ☐ What benefits do they highlight?
- ☐ What does diversity look like?
Competition & Industry
- ☐ Who are their main competitors?
- ☐ What differentiates them?
- ☐ What's the industry outlook?
- ☐ What challenges does the industry face?
How to Read Glassdoor Reviews
Glassdoor can be incredibly useful—or misleading. Here's how to extract real insights:
Look for Patterns, Not Individual Reviews
One angry review means nothing. If 20 people mention the same issue, pay attention.
Filter by Role and Location
Engineering culture might be different from sales culture. HQ might differ from remote.
Look at Recent Reviews
Culture can change quickly. Weight last 12 months more heavily than older reviews.
Read the "Cons" Carefully
Some cons don't bother you ("fast-paced"), others are dealbreakers ("no work-life balance").
Check CEO Approval Rating
Below 50% is a red flag. Above 80% is excellent. Leadership matters.
⚠️ Glassdoor Caveats
- • Unhappy people are more likely to write reviews
- • Some companies incentivize positive reviews
- • Small companies may have too few reviews to be meaningful
- • Culture evolves—old reviews may not reflect today
Research Your Interviewers
Before any interview, look up everyone you'll meet:
On LinkedIn, Look For:
- • Their career path (where did they come from?)
- • How long they've been at the company
- • Any shared connections or experiences
- • Posts they've written or shared
- • Groups they belong to
Google Their Name + Company:
- • Conference talks or podcasts
- • Articles they've written
- • Press quotes
- • Twitter/X presence
Why this matters: "I saw your talk at [Conference] about [Topic]—that really resonated with me" is a powerful way to build rapport.
Using Your Research in the Interview
📝 "Why Do You Want to Work Here?"
Use your research to craft a specific, genuine answer:
Bad answer:
"I've heard great things about the company and it seems like a great place to work."
Good answer:
"I've been following [Company] since your Series B announcement. What drew me in was how you're approaching [specific problem] differently than [competitor]. When I read about [specific initiative or value], it aligned with how I think about [relevant topic]. I also noticed you're expanding into [area], and my experience with [skill] could directly contribute to that."
❓ Ask Informed Questions
Research enables you to ask questions that impress:
"I noticed you recently [acquired X / launched Y / raised funding]. How has that changed priorities for this team?"
"In the CEO's interview with [publication], she mentioned [initiative]. How does this role support that?"
"I saw some Glassdoor reviews mention [specific thing]. What's your perspective on that?"
"With [competitor] doing [X], how is [Company] thinking about differentiation?"
Red Flags to Watch For
🚩 Concerning Patterns
- High turnover: Many short tenures on LinkedIn, constant job postings for same role
- Funding problems: No recent news, leadership departures, missed milestones
- Culture issues: Consistent Glassdoor complaints about management, work-life balance
- Legal troubles: Lawsuits, regulatory issues, discrimination claims
- Product struggles: Negative reviews, declining market share, customer complaints
- CEO concerns: Low approval rating, controversy, revolving door at top
Quick Research Template (30 Minutes)
⏱️ If You're Short on Time
- 5 min: Company website About page + recent blog posts
- 5 min: Google News search for last 6 months
- 5 min: Glassdoor reviews (filter by role, focus on patterns)
- 5 min: LinkedIn profiles of interviewers
- 5 min: LinkedIn company page + recent posts
- 5 min: Write 3 specific questions based on research