23 / 40
W
hether it’s before applying, the
interview, or accepting a job
offer, the importance of researching
a company and getting to know what
they are all about is second to none.
Conducting research on a company that
you are considering working at will tell
you many things, including company
culture, work environment, social
atmosphere, core values and ethics,
and even the type of people that work
there. Here’s how you can successfully
research a company so you can knock
your next interview out of the park.
Know what Makes the
Company Stand Out
Every company has something
that makes them unique. To find this,
understand why the company was
created, what principles it was built
on and what purpose it fulfills. What
makes the company different from
its competitors? What is its market
share like? What is the company’s
value proposition? These are all
essential pieces of information you
will want to know before interacting
with the employer in an interview or
conversational setting.
The answers to these questions
are almost always on the company’s
website. Typically, you will find this
information under the “About Us” page.
Be on the lookout for sections titled
“Core Values” or “Mission Statement” as
these sections reveal how and why the
business stands out from the crowd.
Read closely and after, ask yourself
what the company stands for and what
their purpose is. Some examples of
core company values are “commitment
to client service” or “sustainable and
ethical practices.” When you are reading
the “About Us” section on their website,
be sure to jot down anything that you
find interesting, any values or tidbits
that resonate with you or anything
that sparks your curiosity. Review this
section and any other company basics
you should know: when and where the
company was founded, the founders,
CEO or top executives, the size of the
company, current location, general
company history and any statistics or
certifications that are mentioned.
Use your research to understand
what the employer values and connect
with them on company-specific topics
during your interview and other
interactions. Of course, don’t recite
their website content verbatim during
the interview, but do bring up certain
points that stood out to you. You could
say something like, “I was skimming
through your website and I noticed that
(company name) strongly values giving
back to the community. Could you tell
me more about how that value has
impacted company culture?”
Ensure you cannot easily answer
your questions by looking at the
website. This shows that you have
done your research and that you value
the company’s efforts. By asking or
mentioning specific things from the
website, the employer will know
you took the time to learn about the
organization.
Check Out Their Social
Media
The company’s social media is a
window into their organization. By
checking out the company’s social
media profiles, you will get a good
sense of who they are. Find their social
media, see what platforms they are
active on, and scroll through their posts
to see what updates they are sharing.
Checking out their social media will
give you an insight into their customer
base, interactions, tone, brand, purpose,
and events and initiatives that they find
important. Remember, if they spend
time promoting something, it’s probably
because they think it’s important!
This information will allow you
to gauge the type of customer they
appeal to and interact with. As always,
remember to make a mental note of
positive news and examples so that
you can use them to your advantage
in the interview. If there is a post that
stands out to you, a positive comment or
review from a customer, or a company
referral, take note so you can reference
the positive experience later on–you
may even pick up on something the
employer has not seen yet and surprise
them! Knowing how a company interacts
with its customers, its community and in
some cases, its own employees online
can help you know what to expect when
interacting with the employer yourself.
> > >
by Lindsay Malcom, AgCareers.com Virtual Career Fair & Social Media Intern
How To Research A Company
23
AGCAREERS.COM
AG & FOOD CAREER GUIDE
Photo by Dan Dimmock on Unsplash