Researching Companies for Engineering Interviews

Researching the company before a job interview. A lot of people research the wrong things. They look at stuff like how long they've been around, how many offices they have, their values and try to memorise a load of facts that aren't really going to help them in the interview. Instead research the things that are going to help you in the interview. Why does the company exist? Who are it's customers? Who are it's competitors? What are the challenges this company is facing right now? This type of research allows you to tailor your interview answers to the real-world context of the business, making you stand out as someone who understands them and can actually help them. A Google search will tell you a lot, but go deeper. Check out their company page updates on LinkedIn, check out their employees on LinkedIn, what are they saying? Check out customer reviews on TrustPilot, use their product, download their app if you can. Learn as much as you can and how the role you're interviewing for and your experience might contribute. Anything I've missed?

Doing a little homework on the company gives you an instant leg up. Here’s what I’ve seen over years of interviewing PMs, engineers, and designers. Why research pays off: ➡️ Better questions. Knowing the latest product launch, you can ask, “How are you measuring success on the new rentals feature?” That sparks a real conversation. ➡️ Smoother answers. When you understand the business, you can line up stories that hit their priorities. Growth stalled? You bring up the A/B test that moved the KPI. Talking AI? You share how you handled model bias. ➡️ Clear interest signal. Preparation tells interviewers you value the role and respect their time. ➡️ Built-in risk check. Earnings calls, user forums, and Glassdoor reviews help you spot red flags so you’re interviewing them too. My 60+ minute prep routine: • Read the last two quarters of earnings releases and blog posts. • Skim press releases for new bets or leadership changes. • Use the product and jot down friction points. • Draft three smart questions Google can’t answer. Great interviews feel like two teammates chatting, not a pop quiz. A little research flips the script. Show up curious, confident, and ready to talk about what really matters to the team.

After multiple failed interviews despite solid technical skills, I discovered what was missing when a hiring manager told me: "The other candidate asked better questions about our codebase challenges." This changed everything. For my next interview, I researched the company's product and prepared thoughtful questions about their specific technical problems. "I noticed your app has complex user permissions. How do you handle authorization across services?" The interview transformed from an exam into a real engineering conversation. Two days later, I received an offer. Quick Takeaways: 🦄 Research the company's technical challenges before interviewing 🦄 Ask specific, thoughtful questions about their codebase and architecture 🦄 Engage as a curious peer, not just a candidate being evaluated 🦄 Show you're thinking about their problems, not just your qualifications The questions you ask often matter more than the answers you give. This simple shift in approach can make all the difference. 🚀

Got an interview coming up? Here's how to research the company ahead of time (don't just visit their website) ... ✅ 1) Review their website, blog, social media accounts, and LinkedIn page. (Some companies have culture hashtags like #WeAreCisco, #LifeAtChewy, #WeAreTarget / #, #InsideZappos, #LinkedInLife,  You’ll find the hashtags in their social media posts.) ✅ 2) Read press releases and media mentions. (Click the “News” tab too). ✅ 3) Find annual reports and quarterly earnings, if publicly available. ✅ 4) Research the size of company: employees and revenue. SeekingAlpha is great for this. ✅ 5) Search for interviews with members of the executive team. They’ll talk about the vision and goals of the company. ✅ 6) What are they selling? Get to know the details and demo the product if you can. ✅ 7) Who are their customers? Read customer reviews. ✅ 8) Who is their competition and how do they differentiate themselves? What is their reputation in the industry? ✅ 9) Research the industry: Do an online search for “recent trends in [your industry]” and “the future of [your industry]." ✅ 10) Research the people interviewing you: Search their name on Google and read their LinkedIn profile. Also, research the LinkedIn profiles of the people who work there: Get an idea of company culture/backgrounds/education/experience, especially for the department you’re interested in. Do people stay there awhile? Get promoted from within? That’s a good sign. ✅ 11) Study the job description and rehearse short stories that illustrate the keywords and key skills they're looking for. ✅ 12) Research the interview process at the company with Glassdoor, Indeed, and Comparably. Look up the company and click on the “Interviews” tab to read others’ experiences interviewing with the company. Make notes on your research and bring them to the interview. Work your research into the conversation: • "In preparation for this interview, I read the annual review report and was intrigued by ..." • "I was listening to an interview with your CEO and I agreed with what she said about ..." • "In order to understand your customers, I read the best and worst reviews on your website, Amazon, and social media posts. Here's what I noticed ..." I'm rooting for you. 👊 ♻ Please repost if you think this advice will help others. ***** Hi, have we met? I'm Emily and I'm on a mission to get the #greenbannergang back to work, one actionable step at a time. #jobsearch #jobhunt #jobseekers

I'm convinced the majority of job seekers don't really research the organisations that they apply to and then interview with. I get it, it's hard and takes a lot of time that most don't have. Most will look at a company website, google them and maybe read customer or Glassdoor reviews but really thats all surface level stuff. Deep research will help you understand if this is really the right place for your next career move and provide knowledge that will impress in an interview. Here are some more ideas on how you can go deeper with your research; ✅ Read annual and investor reports for public listed companies ✅ Review any recent news and media articles that aren't paid for by the organisation ✅ Talk to people who are in your network who currently or have worked there (ask what they like/don't like and why they stay/left) ✅ Identify their best in class competitors and get a feel for what the organisation is doing to differentiate and stay relevant ✅ Cross check with what the company website says about them v their LinkedIn Page and other open source employment platforms ✅ If they provide products or services in a B2C environment, do a 'mystery shop' All the research you do will help create a picture potentially of what the environment will be like to work in. Hopefully, the research enhances your desire to work there and therefore the insight will be invaluable to showcase this passion in the interview. If there are some queries, ask the key questions you need to so you are clear on whether it is the right environment for you or not. What else do you do to research a prospective employer? Would love to hear what I may have missed! #jobsearchstrategies #companyresearch #jobsearchadvice #careerplanning

Before you meet the interviewer, meet the company. These top tools will show you how. 🌟 Knowing about the company where you're interviewing can make a huge difference in your performance. It shows your interest and commitment. ⚫ Here are the top 5 tools to help you research a company thoroughly before your interview: ✔️ LinkedIn: Not just for networking, LinkedIn provides insights into the company’s culture, key employees, and recent updates or achievements. ✔️ Glassdoor: Get the scoop on company reviews, salary ranges, and interview questions commonly asked by the company, straight from current and former employees. ✔️ Company Website: Explore the official site to understand their products, services, mission, and the latest news. Check out their 'About Us' and 'Press Release' sections. ✔️ Google Alerts: Set up alerts for the company to receive the latest news and developments directly in your inbox. This keeps you informed about recent events up to the day of your interview. ✔️ Social Media: Follow the company on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get a feel for their brand voice and how they interact with customers and stakeholders. Equipped with these tools, you'll be able to impress your interviewers with your in-depth knowledge and genuine interest in their company. 💡 Which tool do you find most useful for your pre-interview research? Or do you have another method? Share your experiences below! #jobseekers #careertips

I once lost an interview that I thought was the perfect for for because I skipped this step. 
A few years ago, I walked into an interview confident about my skills but clueless about the company.
The first question was, “What do you know about us?”
I fumbled. The panel smiled politely, but I knew I’d lost them.

According to Glassdoor, 88% of hiring managers say a candidate’s knowledge of the company influences their decision. Here are 5 simple steps on how you can research about the company before an interview: 
🔎 Company Website – Read the “About Us,” mission, vision, and latest press releases.
🔎 LinkedIn Page – Study recent posts, leadership team, and company culture.
🔎 Glassdoor & AmbitionBox – Understand reviews, work environment, and interview experiences.
🔎 News & Press – Check recent achievements, expansions, or product launches.
🔎 Role-specific Insights – Learn how your role impacts their goals. Do not forget to read the Job Description thoroughly. When you’re well read, you can incorporate this knowledge in your interview when required. What’s your go-to source for company insights before an interview? #company #jobs #interview #JD #website #glassdoor

As a hiring manager, I noticed that candidates who researched this about the company were more likely to get hired. Spoiler alert: They didn’t just skim through the company’s website. - Knew what was going on in the industry. - Familiarized with the products, and understood who were the ideal customers. - Understood how the company made money. - Analyzed the competitors. - Dug into the company's history and researched the leadership team. Knowing these things allowed them to ask better questions, be more confident, and make the conversation better. This shows that they were proactive and truly interested in the role, making them stand out. Ironically, it helps the candidate disqualify a company if it doesn’t match what they’re looking for, saving them time. Plus, there’s no need to spend hours doing that. There are plenty of AI tools that can help you with the search. Happy job hunting! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Share this post with your network. And follow me for more content like this.