Why It’s Important to Research Before a Job Interview

Congrats! You’ve landed an interview for a job you are excited about! But how do you get ready to wow this potential employer? Researching the company you are applying to is a critical step in being prepared for an interview setting, and a sure way to stand out from other applicants.  Researching a company you want to work with before you go in for your interview (and, ideally, even before you submit your resume for a position) ensures that you:

Know the company’s background.

Researching the company before the interview helps you to be clear on what exactly the company is all about. Look into what exactly are the services/products the company you are applying to provides and be familiar with them.  What is the company’s mission statement? What are they trying to achieve as a business? What have they achieved in recent years? What do they value? Who are their competitors? Knowing about the company shows that you have an interest and an understanding about their business. You will be able to better engage in conversation in the interview, and impress employers with your initiative.

Understand what the company is looking for in a candidate.

Knowing about the company helps you anticipate what sort of candidate they are looking for in the role you are applying to. Carefully review not only their job posting, but other job postings within the company. Are there skills that overlap? Can you tell what the company values in all of its candidates? Review their mission statement for their core values. What values jump out that you can highlight on your own resume? Reach out to current employees. Find out what skills and qualifications helped them land their position – do you have any in common that you can point to on your resume? Research allows you to anticipate exactly what an employer is looking for, and lets you be confident in putting your best self forward for the position you want.

Are ready to ask questions.

Do you have any questions of your own for your employer? You should! Employers almost always ask if you have any questions in a job interview, and they are eager to answer them. If you’ve researched the company beforehand, you won’t be humming and hawing when they do! Questions show an employer that you are engaged in the workings of the company, that you are interested in what it is they do and how they do it. And with all the research you’ve done, you may indeed have questions based on what you’ve learned. Asking thoughtful questions demonstrates not only that you are interested and engaged, but prepared.

A job interview is an exciting step in landing your dream position. Celebrate the achievement and make yourself interview ready by reading up on the company you want to work with. Properly preparing with thorough research before an interview gives you the confidence to engage in great conversation and provides you the tools to answer any questions that comes your way.

If you are looking for support, or have questions on how to find a job, Career Services at Toronto School of Management is here for you. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Did you know?

TSOM will welcome 2023 with not just one, but two special career events for both our students and companies in Canada!

We are excited to invite both students and employers to our 2023 Winter/Spring Internship and Job Fair, which will include online and in-person events, aimed at connecting TSOM’s aspiring young professionals to Canada’s diverse and thriving job market.

The first event will be a virtual job fair on January 26th, from 2 – 4 p.m. The in-person career fair will take place at our downtown Toronto campus on March 30th, from 2 – 5 p.m.

TSOM Student can log in to their Canvas account to access tips on interview preparation, and upcoming workshops and can also view the names of companies who will be attending the fair, so they can make the most out of this great experience!

For more information, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you there!