“So What Do You Know About Our Company?”

An interviewer says, “So what do you know about our company?” What do you do?

A. Spit mad knowledge about the industry.
B. Mention a recent news article featuring the company.
C. Ask intelligent questions.
D. All of the above.

The answer is “D. All of the above.” This question is a great chance to share you knowledge about not only the company itself but also the industry. If you’ve truly done your research, it might even lead to a few intelligent questions about a recent marketing campaign or a company reorganization. This is the time to show off and demonstrate how interested you are in this position.

Head to Google
Thanks to the Internet, you have no excuse not to become an expert on this company. A quick Google search will bring up websites and recent news articles both good and bad. Read up as much as you can about the company – that means more than just the headlines! This research should help you develop some questions.

Get Social
A quick scan of social media presences like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn will teach you about what’s important at the company right now. Explore all of their social sites and browse posts from the last six months. It’s likely you’ll find some great information here and a get a feel for the company’s culture.

Crowdsource Information
Reach out to your network on LinkedIn or Facebook. Can anyone fill you in on the company’s core values? Their work ethic? What the work environment is like in this specific department?  This is the kind of information you might not repeat exactly in your interview but it should help you shape your answers.

Read our previous post: “So Tell Me About Yourself.”

Image by Greg Smith.