How to Research a Company You Want to Work For

How to Research a Company You Want to Work For How to Research a Company You Want to Work For Find out what key facts you need to know before going in for an interview.Before heading out for an interview at a company you’ve had your eye on, you should take time researching your potential employer. Otherwise, how can you be sure the company of your dreams won’t actually turn out to be a nightmare to work for?As a bonus, any research you do now into your prospective employer will pay dividends during the interview. You can always point to some piece of knowledge you uncovered, being careful to tie it into your skills and why you are the ideal candidate for the job.It is common to ask applicants why they want to work for the company during interviews. Going in armed with a few particulars will set your feet firmly on the path toward securing the position you desire.Here are a few things you’ll want to find out and how you can go about gathering the information: What They DoVery often, a company’s name does not necessarily make it clear what they do. If the position you a re applying for is in a department not directly related to what the company produces, it may not occur to you to investigate.You don’t want to find yourself working for a company when you don’t like or agree with what they do. This is where the company’s website can come in handy. Good places to check for this information are the “About” page or some variation of it. Why They Do ItThe reason why a business does what it does can provide you with valuable insight into values the company is based on and the passion that fuels the people who work there.A company’s mission can further inspire you get involved and be a part of the team.If you can adopt their mission and incorporate it into your statement of why you want to work there, it should put you in solid with the interviewer.Current EventsBeing aware of what is going on with a company can be beneficial for obvious reasons. Sift through the company’s social media pages to shed light on the culture of the company. Searc hing through news coverage can reveal recent accomplishments, releases, or issues you may find useful to incorporate in the interview.For further insight, you can also research the company’s key players. These members include but are not limited to department directors, CEO, and president. Other valuable resources include career websites. By visiting these pages, you can read what current and past employees had to say about working there.Other Questions to Consider: Here’s a quick list of other questions you may want to keep in mind while you are doing your research. How big is the company? How many employees do they have? Is the company international? Who are their closest competitors? Have there been any major changes recently (new CEO, widespread layoffs, corporate takeovers)? Does the company have a clear vision for the future? What major innovations, if any, is the company responsible for? How do its products or services rate? Are they high quality? Who buys their products or services? Having the answers to some of these questions fresh in your mind could come in handy during your interview - making you memorable enough to stand out from the sea of applicants.