How to Showcase Your Research in a Job Interview

This question is presented by interviewers to see how well the interviewee knows about their potential employer, and can help them weed out people who aren't all that interested in the particular job and who are only looking for a paycheck. Well-prepared candidates have done their research, and know how to present it so that they stand out from other prospective employees.

The question can seem obvious; a graphic design firm is clearly a company that helps to provide better visibility to other companies by using graphics on signs, websites, and other forms of advertisement. Stating the clear objective of the company won't do you any favors, so you'll have to dig deeper before you're ready to talk with the job recruiter. A basic search on the internet can show you some information on the company, and their own website should have a page on which it shows the history and accolades of the company. Take note of any awards the company has won and either print out the page with this information or take good notesto study from, since this will be something you'll want to bring up in the interview.

Once you're presented with the question, make sure you're well prepared. If the company won a Humanitarian Award from the Green Association and a Performance Award from the Browning Institute, you don't want to say "I noticed that ABC Company won the Humanitarian Award from the Brown Associates." If you have difficulty remembering small details or with memorization, pick the most significant attributes to talk about. For example, a company that prides itself in community outreach will be proud of its awards in that area, so focus on that. If the company has won multiple awards, mention that, and point out the most impressive. You could say, "I saw that ABC has won many performance awards, notably the Reader's Top Choice for Photography."

Make sure you personalize your attention to the company's recognitions and accomplishments. You can use your answer to the job research question to show off your research and to show yourself off as a prospective employee. You could mention the company's philanthropy and say, "I saw that ABC is very involved in the local community, which means a lot to me, since I've been involved in a lot of volunteer work myself." Another possibility is to talk about how well the company is received by users: "I did some research and saw that ABC users love the sense of community the online forum has, and I appreciate that as a consumer and would love to work for a company that ensures that their customers feel welcomed and appreciated." If you can find positive reviews of the company, quote them back at the interviewer, and offer to mail or email him/her links of the reviews you have found (you'll find it useful to create a folder of internet favorites about the company so you can save them for this very reason) The company may want to put a positive review (or a link to it) on their website.

Most companies start from humble beginnings, with multi-billion dollar corporations grown from optimistic visions from entrepreneurs and inventors. If you find something interesting in the company's history, mention it, especially if it pertains to your own history. If, for example, your family has a history in delivery service, and you've read that ABC began by delivering balloons to local hospitals and is now a large party supplies business, mention it to the interviewer. "What appealed to me about ABC is that it began in the delivery business, which my grandfather and my father were a part of, and it's great to see that sort of business expand into what ABC's become." There's no need to lie about your past, or embellish something to make it seem more significant, but if there is a connection, bring it up and make the company's aspect seem more personal to you.

There might be times when you are interviewing for a company that is so well-known, it would seem almost trivial for an interviewer to ask about what you know about them. In that case, doing great research is even more important. Mention how much you like the products, and how you'd love to work for them, and you'll sound like all the other candidates. It certainly doesn't hurt to mention those things, but if you bring up something that they're working on, or things that set them apart from other famous companies, and you will set yourself apart. McDonald's not only has one of the most popular brands in the world, but they have the Ronald McDonald House. Look at the way the company gives back, or how it trains and awards their employees, and you'll show that you have more than just a passing interest in the company.

Being asked "What do you know about us?" and "Why do you want to work here?" shouldn't throw you off so much that you're stumbling for an answer. If you do your research and mention key awards, philanthropy, unique history points, and how this has influenced your decision to apply, you will showcase yourself as an enthusiastic interviewee who has done his/her research, and who has an attention to detail - someone they will want to hire.