Research the Company and the Role Before You Go

Many fresh candidates walk into an interview knowing only the name of the company. Interviewers notice this immediately. The question “What do you know about us?” is common and easy to prepare for. One hour of good research makes you more confident, gives you better answers and shows you are serious about this job, not just any job.

Start with the job advert

The job advert is the best clue to what the employer wants. Read it slowly, twice. Then do this.

1. Copy the advert into a document so you do not lose it if the link disappears.
2. Underline every skill, tool and duty it mentions. These are the words the interviewer will use.
3. Split them into two groups: must have and nice to have. Adverts often list too many things. The first items and repeated items are usually the important ones.
4. Next to each must-have, write one real example from your life where you used or learned it: a college project, an internship, volunteer work, a part-time job, a course.

Now you have a map. For each key requirement, you already hold a short story. That story becomes your answer when the interviewer asks about it. It also shows you where you have gaps, so you can prepare an honest reply for them (lesson 8).

Learn about the company

You do not need to know everything. You need a few clear facts and your own thoughts about them. Look at these places.

• The company website. Read the About page, the products or services, and any news or blog. Notice who their customers are.
• Their social media or LinkedIn page. See what they share and how they describe themselves.
• Recent news. Search for the company name with the word “news”. Look for something recent and positive, such as a new product, a new branch or an award.
• Company reviews. On this site and elsewhere, employees sometimes describe working there. Read them carefully, remember that they are one person's view, and look for patterns.
• The people. If you know who will interview you, look at their role. Never contact them in a way that feels intrusive.

Write five lines: what the company does, who it serves, how big it is (if you can tell), one recent thing you noticed, and one thing you like about it. This takes about twenty minutes and gives you material for “Tell me what you know about us” and “Why do you want to work here?”.

Understand the role in daily terms

A job title does not tell you what a person does all day. Try to picture a normal Tuesday in the role. What tasks will you do? Who will you work with? What does a good day look like? You can find clues in the advert, in descriptions of similar roles, and in the roadmap pages on this site, which explain typical steps and skills for many careers.

If you know someone who works in a similar role, ask them for ten minutes. Good questions are: What is a normal day like? What do you wish you had known when you started? What do new people struggle with? Say thank you, and do not ask for a job in the same breath.

Know the basics of the industry

A little background helps. If you apply to a bank, know what kind of customers a bank serves. If you apply to a hospital, understand the roles of the people around you. If you apply to a factory or workshop, be familiar with safety rules and shifts. For a technical role, read about the main tools in your field. You do not need to be an expert. You need to sound like someone who has taken an interest.

Prepare your own questions

Almost every interview ends with “Do you have any questions for us?”. Saying “No” sounds uninterested. Prepare three to five real questions, based on your research. Good examples:

• “What would a successful first three months look like in this role?”
• “How does the team work together day to day?”
• “What training or support do new people receive?”
• “What are the biggest challenges the team faces right now?”
• “What are the next steps in the process?”

Avoid asking about pay, leave or perks as your first question. These matter, and you should learn about them, but they are better raised later, or when the interviewer brings them up (lesson 13).

A one-page prep sheet

Put what you learned on a single page you can read quickly before the interview.

COMPANY: what they do, who they serve, one recent fact
ROLE: three main tasks, three skills they ask for
MY EXAMPLES: one real story for each skill
GAPS: what I have not done yet and how I will learn it
QUESTIONS: 3 to 5 questions I will ask
LOGISTICS: place, time, who to ask for, phone number

Reading this page for ten minutes before you go is more helpful than a long night of panic study. Keep your prep sheets for each application. They are a record, and you can reuse parts for similar roles.

What not to do

• Do not repeat the company's slogan as your answer. Say it in your own words.
• Do not criticise a competitor or a previous employer.
• Do not pretend to know more than you do. A sincere “I read that you are expanding into the city, and I would like to learn how that works” is better than a made-up opinion.
• Do not rely on a single source. Read more than one.

Your task

1. Choose a real job advert. Mark the must-haves and write one real example from your life for each of the top five.
2. Write your five-line company summary, using the company's website and one news search.
3. Write three questions you would ask the interviewer.
4. Fill in the one-page prep sheet.

How to check it worked

• Every top requirement has a real example next to it, or a gap that you named honestly.
• Your questions are about the job and team, not only about pay.
• You can say in two sentences what the company does and why you want to work there.