How to research a company: Top tips and tricks

Researching a company before an interview is crucial for a successful job application. It is important to know how to research a company properly as the information revealed can be used in at least three stages of the job application process. This article will explain the importance of researching a company, when it is most useful, and how to do it effectively when preparing for an interview.

How to research a company?

Conducting research on a company before an interview can have a significant impact on your decision and chances of getting the position. It is generally beneficial to research a company before applying for any position. Therefore it is important to know how to research a company effectively and what to research about a company before an interview. Here are some steps to research a company:

1. Talk to friends or colleagues.

If you happen to have a connection with someone who knows about the company you're looking into, talk to them to gather more information about the company.

2. Visit their website.

When you explore the website of the company you're interested in joining, you can discover various details. This helps you understand their professionalism, grasp their company culture, and identify their employees.

Remember, the information on the website might have a certain perspective. While a company might present itself as ethical, creative, and productive, customer reviews might offer a more balanced view of their actual performance. This is why researching a company thoroughly is important.

3. Visit their social media pages.

When you check out a company's social media and LinkedIn profiles, you can gain a clearer understanding of their identity, the projects they've undertaken, and the individuals they collaborate with. While these platforms may also host customer reviews, remember that the content posted is managed by the company, making it somewhat biased and subjective. So, it's essential to dig deeper when researching a company.

4. Try their products or services.

When you try out the products or services of the company you're interested in, you can gain insight into the tasks you could handle if you join them. Getting in touch through email or phone allows you to develop an impression of the company's brand and their customer service quality. This active approach is an important part of researching a company thoroughly.

5. Use Google for an online search.

A Google search about the company or institution can uncover details that aren't present on their official website or social media profiles. By scanning news articles and reviews from customers and employees, you can develop a more comprehensive understanding of the organization. It's also valuable to read impartial articles to spot any potential concerns while researching a company.

Top Tips on How to research a Company

Here are the top tips on how to research a company that will help you ace your interviews:

1. Start With the Employer’s Website

Where's the best place to begin learning about a potential employer? Well, start by visiting their main website. Look for these details:

1. What do they make or do? Is it something you find interesting?
2. How big is the company? Are they a new company, a really big one, or somewhere in between?
3. What's the work atmosphere like? Is it more relaxed or formal?
4. Do they have rules about what to wear?
5. Can you find info about how you can grow with the company on their website?

When you're looking for a job, you can use this information in two big ways. First, you can decide if the company's way of doing things matches what you like. If you're a young worker who likes flexible hours and doesn't like wearing fancy clothes, a company like Goldman Sachs might not be the best fit. If you see that a company's style doesn't match yours, it could be a good idea to look for other places to apply.

On the other hand, having this info can also help a lot in your job interview. Usually, interviewers will ask if you know about their company. The more you know, the more interested you seem. This could make the interviewer pick you instead of other people.

2. Find Company Employees via LinkedIn

LinkedIn can be a helpful tool to discover who's currently part of the company you're researching. For instance, if you search for "People" within the "Apple" page on LinkedIn, you'll find a list of their employees from around the world. You can then narrow it down by location (like Austin, Texas) and job role (such as Marketing).

So, how does this info come in handy? Firstly, you can connect with someone working in the department you're interested in and ask them questions about the company, its culture, the department, or the job you're applying for.

But remember, it's important not to come across as too pushy. The people you reach out to aren't obligated to reply. However, if you approach them politely, there's a good chance you'll get a response. In the best situation, if they appreciate your questions and your proactive attitude, they might even introduce you personally to the team leader or the head of that department!

3. Look Up News About the Employer  

Search for the company's name and click on "News" to find out their recent activities. Check the Latest News. You can also locate such details on the News or Blog section of the company's website. This kind of information is really useful in a few ways:

• It helps you steer clear of companies that have been in recent trouble.
• It impresses the interviewer when you show you're aware of what's happening with the company.
• You can get more insight into the company's recent progress. For instance, you can find out about their latest products, countries they're growing into, and more.

4. Look Up Company Reviews on Glassdoor

Glassdoor is a website where employees share reviews about their employers. You can go there to read reviews about the company and the CEO. Plus, you can find out details like:

• Average salaries for different jobs.
• Feedback on how interviews go.
• Thoughts on the company's benefits.
• And much more!

This info can help you find an employer that fits you well, negotiate the right pay, or avoid companies with unhappy workers and bad reviews.

5. Tap Into Your Network

With LinkedIn, you can check if anyone you know is working at the company you're looking into. Then, you can simply get in touch with them and ask about the job or the company. If you have a good relationship with the person (or have worked with them before), you can even directly ask them to recommend you for the job!

6. Research Company’s Social Media Pages

Explore the company's social media accounts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. This gives you an idea of how they talk to their audience.

By following them, you'll get updates whenever they share something. You can also show your support by liking and commenting on their posts. This might get their attention, particularly if it's a smaller company.

7. Look Up Posts on Social Media 

You can search on social media to find out what people are saying about the company. This gives you a more neutral understanding of the organization. For instance, you can use a search like this: site:reddit.com "apple" "job" on Google to find all the Reddit discussions about Apple as an employer.

8. Get an Edge on the Interview Process With Glassdoor

By checking out the Interview Q&A Section on Glassdoor, you can find the actual questions that employers pose to their interviewees. This is super helpful for getting ready for your upcoming interview and getting a sense of the types of questions you might encounter.

9. Learn About Company Salary Averages

A tool like Comparably can be really handy. It helps you find out the average salaries for the specific company and the role you're interested in. This information is gold for negotiating the right salary and making sure you're not offered less than you deserve.

Why should you research a company?

By now, you probably see the clear benefits of researching companies, but we'll go over it just to make sure!
Here are the top 4 reasons to dive into company research:

1. Shine in Interviews: Employers really appreciate candidates who know about their company. They want to hire folks genuinely interested in joining them, not those randomly applying everywhere. The more you know about the company during the interview, the better your chances of landing the job.

2. Spot Warning Signs: With some online research, you can uncover any hidden problems a company might have. This can save you lots of time and effort by avoiding the wrong places to work.

3. Find Your Fit: Not all companies are a match for you. By researching companies online, you can quickly figure out which ones align with your values and goals.

4. Negotiate Smart: Online resources provide info about average salaries at specific companies. Armed with this knowledge, you're better equipped to discuss your salary range during negotiations.

So there you have it, solid reasons to invest time in researching companies before making big career decisions!

Before you spend time filling an application for a particular job, there are specific steps you should take and certain company parameters you should consider before going ahead in the process. Why? For one, it will help you filter the companies and the jobs that actually suit you, that sponsor a work permit and that you are qualified for. Secondly, researching the company before applying can make a huge difference to your responses. Instead of writing generic answers in the form, you can customize your responses and align them with the organization’s larger purpose.

Bawani Chan, a law student from Malaysia, has attended several assessment centers. Her advice?
‘You have to know the main aims, goals, and the business of the company you have applied to. That’s non-negotiable.’ 

If you want your application to embody the company’s values, you need first to acquaint yourself with those values. Then, when you show recruiters that your values align with the company values, you give a compelling yet implicit hint about your suitability for the role. It is the knowledge of such minor details that led Christy Simanjuntak to her current position as Global Credit Analyst at HSBC UK. ‘I think it is helpful to look at the company values as well. For example, Barclays emphasizes on Service, Stewardship, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence’, Christy advises prospective applicants.

Dhruvin Patel, Founder at Ocushield, shares more insight from the employer’s perspective, “Most candidates only look at the website, I think it’s worth digging deeper – check what the latest news about the company is, check their company pages on LinkedIn, etc. A candidate saying, “I love what you do here with xyz”, would stick out for me. Bonus points if the candidate brings something to the table, too: if they have a suggestion to make, or suggestion as to how they’d perform a certain activity in the company – that shows me that they’re proactive, they’re rolling out ideas & have got their thinking cap on.”

Very often, applicants read the job description but are at a loss to imagine what the job exactly entails. To beat this information lacuna, we have one word for you: networking. For such vital but amorphous questions, you can meet recruiters at the careers fairs or talks at your University. Alternatively, you can also reach out to someone who is either currently working in the same position or worked in the past, on LinkedIn, or on your University alumni network.

The underlying principle of all your research should be two-fold: show the company that you are ready to go the extra mile and assess your suitability for the position! Shared by Student Circus

Student Circus is an award-winning employability platform that helps boost international student careers globally. With filtered visa-enabled opportunities for graduates, the platform presents the first-of-its-kind solution for international students from 40+ partner universities in the UK, many of whom have landed jobs at KPMG, Deloitte, Blackrock, Rolls Royce, PwC, EY, among others.

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