how to research a company

How to Research a Company: The Ultimate Guide

Good company research can take many forms. Depending on your research goals, you might want to look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a market, or drill down into key industry leaders and emerging players to unpack their successes.

If you want to beat the competition, you need to know their business as well (if not better) than your own. The more intel you have, the quicker you’ll be able to spot and leverage opportunities, respond to market changes, and grow.

Read on to discover how to research a company online, tear down its strategies, and take over its market share.

What is company research?

Company research gathers and analyzes information about a business and its customers. This means understanding its performance data and target audience so you can optimize your own strategy.

In today’s fiercely competitive markets, doing good company research is a game-changer. In fact, a 2022 report on competitive intelligence found that 98% of businesses believe researching their competitors is vital for success.

If you have the right tools to collect accurate competitive intelligence , you’ll be able to anticipate your competitors’ moves and emerging threats to stay ahead and succeed.

How to do company research in 8 steps

Researching a company is a bit like doing detective work. The deeper you go, the more questions you ask, and the more curious you are, the better the outcome will be.

Here are eight steps to steer you through the process of doing company research.

1. Track top competitors

You want to know exactly what your rivals are doing, where they’re going, and how the competitive landscape is changing. With this data, you can carefully plan your next move and take action when and where it’s needed most. Competitive tracking tools like Similarweb give you the ability to track what your rivals are up to. You can measure each competitor’s digital footprint, and identify any changes or growth over time.

Did someone experience a sudden uptick in website visits? Would you like to know why and how? Perhaps they launched a new feature or ad campaign, or maybe its social channel is driving growth.

With Similarweb Research Intelligence, you get alerts about changes so you can be sure you’ll never miss a beat.

Analyzing the top performers in your industry will give you new ideas and provide targets for what is achievable for you.

Similarweb’s Analyze Industry Leaders tool will tell you who is winning in your industry based on their website performance. A Market Quadrant Analysis graph, or competitive matrix , provides a visual snapshot of the websites in your industry and how they compare based on different metrics. The industry leaders may inspire you to try new things, while the weaker competitors in your industry can provide you with swift opportunities to chip into their market share.

Pro tip: Similarweb’s Similar Sites tool helps you uncover up to 40 domains that are similar to yours. Finding these domains can be infinitely useful when conducting a competitive content analysis . You can audit these domains to learn more about their content strategy and upgrade your own.

2. Benchmark

Now that you have a good view of the market, you need to drill down into your competitors’ performance. You want to understand their metrics and KPIs so you can benchmark them against your own.

A company research and analysis tool can help you understand your competitors’ digital reach and performance. You can look at multiple websites or domains owned by a single company to analyze their aggregated data or look at a specific market. This will give you a good idea of the business’ size and market share .

You’ll also want to look at their engagement metrics and any changes over time. If you see their metrics improving, they are probably investing in a digital strategy . You should look into this to see what has been working for them. We’ll show you how in the next section.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to look at mobile app intelligence too. There are five key metrics you’ll want to track when benchmarking an app:

• Demographics

3. Compare traffic and engagement

These days, it’s no longer enough to consider website traffic and engagement metrics on their own. The complete digital perspective of any company includes mobile app intelligence, alongside traditional desktop and mobile web metrics. You need to see the full picture before you make any judgments or decisions.

Using Similarweb digital intelligence, I wanted to view the key players in the travel industry – specifically travel booking sites, like booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb. First, I want my company research to focus on mobile web and desktop traffic alone.

Using Similarweb Digital Research Intelligence, I can see the overall benchmarks for traffic and engagement. This shows metrics like monthly visits, unique visitors, pages per visit, bounce rate, and visit duration. 

The top websites include booking.com , Airbnb , Expedia , Agoda , and Hotels.com . So, in essence, these are my industry leaders .

However, knowing how important apps are these days to consumers, I want to consider app intelligence in my company research too. When I add this data into the mix, things look a little different.

On both Android and iOS: Expedia, Airbnb, VRBO, booking.com, and Hopper are my top five.

Now, my view of industry leaders has changed . We’ve got three key players who are leading desktop, mobile web, and app platforms; and four others, who respectively dominate different channels.

Here, you can see a range of engagement metrics that apply to mobile apps on Android. Including active users, number of sessions, and session times; which shows engagement, upturns, downturns, and opportunities at a glance.

So, when you view traffic and engagement metrics, make sure you explore desktop, mobile web, and app intelligence to get an accurate picture of what’s really going on.

4. View audience interests

Understanding cross-browsing behavior tells you what other sites your users are interested in. Maybe they are looking at other products and solutions like yours!

This audience interests tool allows you to evaluate the browsing behavior of your target audience, helping you understand user intent and their purchasing process. You might even discover new markets or a specific niche audience , and come up with new audience acquisition strategies.

5. Pinpoint audience overlap

Who else holds your potential customer’s attention? With Similarweb’s Audience Overlap feature, you can analyze metrics and insights on the overlap of visitors across up to five websites for a selected time period and geographical region. You’ll be able to determine the size of your total addressable audience , evaluate what part of the audience is shared, and pinpoint your unreached audience potential.

This is also a good way to gauge audience loyalty . You’ll see the proportion of monthly active users who look at multiple sites in the same category or just one site.

6. Analyze specific pages

While a company may be your competitor, you may not be competing on every front. You might only want to look at a particular segment of a business when doing your company research. This ensures that your insights are specific and useful, and leave out less relevant information.

Similarweb’s Segment Analysis tool lets you slice the URL of a website to analyze just the parts that are relevant to you. You can deconstruct their website to look at a specific category, topic, brand, or whatever else interests you. This can help you benchmark a specific line of business or individual products.

This analysis is extremely powerful for marketing and sales managers, data analysts, and BI specialists who want to optimize their strategies for specific business segments. For example, if you are a clothing retailer looking to launch a line of kids’ clothes, you can use this tool to analyze your competitors’ kids’ clothing lines.

7. Reveal successful conversion strategies

What makes customers convert? The only way to know for sure is to analyze conversion data across your industry. You need to understand the conversion funnel, which keywords and marketing channels drive traffic, and which trends your potential customers are interested in.

You can get a unique view of your industry’s conversion data with Similarweb’s Conversion Analysis tool . Check out each company’s conversion efficiency and how they scale over time. You can identify efficient marketing channels , go-to-market strategies, and their ROI for marketing spending. You can also benchmark your metrics across the industry average.

Understanding conversion strategies also reveals opportunities for your own growth. You can examine category performance at top retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target, and identify what consumers are searching for at the different retailers and what converts. When you understand the customer journey, you can better position yourself to guide them toward purchasing from you.

8. Research mobile app performance

When you research a business, you need to look at all customer touchpoints. Today, that means analyzing apps alongside web and mobile web traffic. You want to know how well your competitors’ apps rank so you can focus on your own app strategy. With rapid consumer adoption of mobile-first spending ( 46% of people now complete a full purchase via mobile ), app intelligence is a key consideration for any type of company research. In almost every industry, the digital landscape changes when you add app intelligence metrics.

If you’re looking at apps competitively, you want to consider:

• Monthly/ Daily Active Users
• No. of sessions/session time
• Sessions per user
• Overall rank
• Category rank
• User retention
• App demographics

Similarweb App Intelligence Premium now provides a few ways to help you view app rankings , downloads, engagement, and usage metrics across both Android and iOS. From benchmarking an app to unpacking the successes of those with apps in your market; good company research should include app analysis. By unifying digital insights, you see a truer picture of a company’s successes online.

How to research a company like an expert

Follow these eight steps and you’ll quickly be able to research any company in any niche like a pro. Uncover key insights that tell you more about a market, target audience, or competitors to shape your own strategy for success.

Ready to get growing? Grab a free trial of Similarweb today.

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Why do company research?

Your business doesn’t exist in a vacuum. You’re competing with other companies and operating in an industry that has its own norms and expectations. If you want to succeed, you need to research other companies in your industry to ensure your strategy is aligned, but also positioned to give you a competitive advantage . You won’t be able to do this without researching other companies.

What to look for when researching a company?

You want to review all their company metrics, including traffic and engagement metrics, and look at their strategy, focus, processes, and content. You should search for any interesting ideas and identify where the company excels. All the data you collect will be valuable for you to compete.

What can company research tell you?

Good company research shows you how a market, company, and its target audience’s interests change over time. It can help you develop your own strategy for growth, and shows trends and emerging threats to watch out for.

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How to Conduct Company Research for Investment?

March 06, 2023

Is a company worth the investment? To answer this question accessing high-quality, reliable data is not just a preference—it's a necessity. Yet, the path to uncovering actionable insights is often littered with obstacles: outdated financial statements, inconsistent metrics, and biased market analyses can cloud judgment, leading investors astray.

In this article, we will discuss the various types of data critical to comprehensive company research, its sourcing, and evaluating both opportunities and risks within potential investments.

Types of information needed for researching a company

Any investment analysis is built on information. Researching a company for investment involves leveraging various types of data.

• Firstly, there is, of course, firmographic information like the company’s location, industry, revenue, and size. This is where the company research kicks off
• Then another crucial piece is Information about the key employees of the company, and it ranges from contact and professional to leisure and interest data. 
• Further on we want to evaluate the growth trends and potential. For example, changes in online job postings or headcount data might indicate the firm’s growth or decline. Meanwhile, technographic data provides insight into how well the company adjusts to the fast-paced technological development.
• Finally, effective company and market research involves news data analysis. This includes company reviews and other direct mentions, as well as market events and industry trends that could affect the firm.

How to conduct effective company research?

1. identify the company.

The first step is, of course, identifying the object of our analysis. Thus, researching a company starts with finding out its defining features, for example, whether it is a public or private company. Public companies are easier to investigate as they are traceable by a ticker symbol and are required to disclose financial information. Other key identifiers of the company are its industry, market share, and where it is registered.

2. Clarify research questions

Research is effective when it has clearly defined goals. Think about what sort of questions need to be answered for you to be able to reach an investment decision about a specific company. Naturally, the main questions will revolve around the company’s products, services, sales, growth trends, management capabilities, and financial health.

3. Determine which sources are reliable and relevant

You are going to need a lot of data to answer the questions that you have raised. Thus, when choosing data sources, consider what information is relevant to your goals. If you seek to know more about company culture, for example, employer review sites are what you need.

The source should also be reliable. Financial data can come from the company’s annual reports and publicly available governmental sources. Meanwhile, market news should only be retrieved from trusted media outlets. Relevancy and reliability are the most important factors when choosing a third-party data provider.

4. Utilize data gathering and analysis tools

Finally, you will need to use the right tools to do the company analysis efficiently. While a manual google search or review of the company website might get you started, it won’t take you all the way. 

Aggregating business news and analyzing public sentiment will require considerable automation. Below you will find more information on the tools and resources to use when researching companies.

Essential tools and resources for gathering information

Public companies operating in the US are required to file accounting and other reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You can use its Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval (EDGAR) tool to search SEC filings. 

EDGAR allows you to search for keywords in various documents describing everything from the company’s historical performance to current business operations and acquisitions. Thus, when it comes to traditional business data, EDGAR is certainly your friend.

Coresignal’s APIs

When it comes to public web data, Coresignal is the right place to be. Consider trying our APIs which allow searching for multiple data points and retrieve what you need immediately. The APIs will fetch you everything from general firmographics to in-depth information about the company’s employees .

Subscription resources

Library of congress provides multiple subscription-based tools that optimize company research for investment purposes. For example, Mergent Online archives past and present company information that can be searched by financial and textual criteria. 

Meanwhile, Factiva holds premium business publications in 26 languages and from 200 countries all over the world. The complete list of subscription tools as well as the complete guide on how to access and use them can be found on the Library’s website .

Linkedin and other social media websites

When considering investing in a business, you want to know what kind of person or persons are running it, what they are interested in, who they network with, and other information found on social media profiles might make you aware of red flags that would otherwise be missed.

Linkedin is the leading social network where prospects on a job search gather information about a potential employer. It might just as well be used to research a company for investment decision-making. In addition to people’s data, social media pages are sources for public company reviews.

How to apply the gathered information to investment decisions?

Using the analysis results for investment decisions is all about putting it in the context of market trends and the competitive landscape faced by the business. Thus, your findings should be leveraged against the knowledge acquired by deeper market research into similar products and services.

First, look at the detailed information about the company’s performance and financial stance. If everything seems to be good there, check for red flags. News about the company and reviews by employees and customers will be the most useful for this purpose. Information from the news and social media websites will also help when considering market trends that will affect the business in question. 

The final step of the analysis is scrutinizing every publicly available information about the key decision-makers in the company of interest. Insights from their online presence should supplement data on their department, role in the organization, and expertise.

The importance of company research

Investors need to research a company thoroughly before making their decision. Otherwise, they would have to pay not only the price of a bad investment but also that of a lost opportunity to invest in a better business. Only a deep analysis of the organization, its competitors, and industry conditions will give a good idea of its value. 

Additionally, researching a company for its business model and the people that are involved has potential long-term benefits. The knowledge acquired might be used in deciding upon future opportunities when the same people or a similar business is encountered.

Thus, researching businesses is the smart thing to do before arriving at any important investment decision.

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How to research a company: top tips on gathering information about employers

Researching a company doesn't just prove to an employer you're enthusiastic about the opportunity. It also helps you pitch your application and perform better at the interview, demonstrating your match to the organisation's culture and values.

In 'How I landed a place on HSBC's graduate programme' ,

Belal Kulasy said: "I made sure I knew exactly what the bank valued and how it operates, and I tried to match these values to the experiences that I had. This showed the company that I would fit well within their organisation."

Much of the information you'll need to be an interested and well-informed candidate is easily available online.

The company itself

The job description is an obvious starting point. Does the role fit within your overall career strategy? Will it give you career-building opportunities or allow you to develop new, marketable skills? Understanding the role requirements and potential also help you work out where your strengths intersect with company needs, and whether you'll need to address any skills or experience gaps in your application.

However, if the job description is vague, be prepared to dig deeper. Contact the recruiter or HR department with a brief, polite email to ask for more detail.

Read the company website and press releases for information about the company's history and progress: innovations, key milestones and so on, as well as their corporate values, often written into mission or vision statements. This will help you with the almost inevitable interview question "Tell us what you know about the company" or "Why are you interested in working with us?" Check out the 'Working with us' page – not just to find out about vacancies or the typical application process, but also an idea of what they look for in employees, in terms of technical skills or personal attributes.

Industry associations

Read publications, newsletters or blogs for in-depth information and analysis on the health of the sector as a whole, as well as for snippets of news or gossip. Find out all you can about the main players, current threats or opportunities, which companies are doing well, and so on. This knowledge will help you ask thoughtful questions at interviews and shows your interest in working in the sector.

Social networks

Social networks help you develop contacts who can share information and they enable you to build relationships with other industry professionals and with those who have hiring authority. LinkedIn is especially useful for this, with recent data showing a high percentage of members aged between 25 and 54 in higher income groups.

On LinkedIn, use the company tab to search by industry keyword for a list of companies sorted by relevance (relationship to you, for example). You can see primary or shared connections, and then request an introduction to that shared connection to get an insider's view on working for the company. Digging around on the company's page also gives you useful information on hiring statistics and patterns (where employees come from or go to), annual company growth, key skills of employees, and job postings.

Other social networks such as Google+ and BraveNewTalent

allow you to connect with employers directly. Use Twitter to follow people within companies you're interested in, and the company pages on Facebook to find out more about their working culture.

Review sites

Sites like Glassdoor (you'll need to search for UK companies) and What Are They Really Like (WATRL) provide employee reviews on salaries, working environments, along with other insights.

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How to Research a Company - Top 9 Tips for 2024

There are a lot of benefits to researching potential employers.

For one, you’re better prepared for the interview. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions about the role or company , you are able to give more educated answers.

Moreover, it becomes much easier to spot red flags about potential employers. If you find that every other review about the company you’re applying for is negative, chances are, they’re not the best employer in the world.  

That said, how, exactly do you research a company?

Well, we’re about to teach you just that, starting with:

How to Research a Company - Top 9 Tips

Tip#1. start with the employer’s website.

What’s a better place to start researching a potential employer than their “front door?”

Start by visiting the company’s website and looking for information on:

• What product or service does the company offer? Is it something you personally find interesting?
• How big is the company? Is it a young startup, a multi-national corporation, or something in-between?
• What’s the company culture like? Is the work environment more casual or formal?
• Is there a dress code?
• Does the company have prospective growth opportunities outlined on its website? 

In your job search , you can use this information in 2 main ways.

For one, you can decide if a company is a good fit for you culture-wise. If you’re a young professional who hates wearing a suit and loves having a flexible schedule, chances are, Goldman Sachs is NOT your ideal employer. If the company you’re looking into has a culture that doesn’t represent your values, you might want to consider applying elsewhere. 

Alternatively, this information can help you ace the interview . It’s almost guaranteed that the interviewer is going to ask you questions about how familiar you are with their brand.

The more you know about the company, the more invested you’ll appear and the more likely it is that the interviewer will pick you over the other candidates.

Tip #2. Find Company Employees via LinkedIn

You can use LinkedIn to find who’s currently working at the company you’re researching.

For example, if you look up “People” under “Apple” on LinkedIn, you’ll get a view of their employees worldwide:

From there, you can filter by specific location (E.g. Austin, Texas), and then filter by role (E.g. Marketing).

So - how can you use this information?

For one, you can connect with someone in the department you’d like to work in and ask them questions about the company, culture, department, or the role you’re applying for.

The key here, though, is not to be too pushy. The people you contact don’t owe you an answer or a reply. However, if you’re being courteous, there’s a very good chance you’re actually going to get one.

Best case scenario, if they like your questions and initiative, they might even refer you to the team lead or department head personally!

Tip #3. Look Up News About the Employer  

Look up the company’s name and hit “News” to see what the company has been up to recently.

You can also find such information on the News or Blog page on the employer’s website.

There are a lot of ways you can use such information, some of which include:

• You can dodge companies that have had recent scandals.
• You can impress the interviewer with how up-to-date you are with the employer.
• You can learn more about recent company development. For example, what products they’re working on, which countries they’re expanding to, etc.

Tip #4. Look Up Company Reviews on Glassdoor

Glassdoor is an employer review website where you can read information about prospective employers.

You can use it to find reviews about the company and its CEO. For example:

Moreover, you can check out specifics like:

• Salary averages for any given position.
• Reviews of their interview process.
• Reviews of the benefits offered by the company

You can use such information to find an employer you’re going to love, ask for the right salary, or dodge companies with high turnover rates and negative reviews.

Tip #5. Tap Into Your Network

Using LinkedIn, you can see if anyone in your network is working at the company you’re researching.

Then, you can just reach out to them and directly ask questions about the role/employer.

If you’re close with the person you’re reaching out to (or have had professional relations in the past), you can even ask them for a referral directly!

Tip #6. Research Company’s Social Media Pages

Go through the company’s social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn) to get a grasp of how they communicate with their target demographics.

Follow them to get updates whenever they post anything. You can even like and comment on their posts which can help you fall into their radar, especially if they’re a small team.

Tip #7. Look Up Posts on Social Media 

You can look up what people are discussing about the company on social media to get a more unbiased view of the organization.

For example, you could Google something like this: site:reddit.com "apple” "job" to get a complete list of all threads on Reddit where people are discussing Apple as an employer:

Tip #8. Get an Edge on the Interview Process With Glassdoor

Using Glassdoor Interview Q&A Section , you can find the exact questions employers ask their interviewees. For example:

You can use this to better prepare for the upcoming interview, as well as get a general idea of what kind of questions you’re going to be asked.

Tip #9. Learn About Company Salary Averages

You can use a tool like 

 to find salary averages for the company you’re applying for based on department or role:

You can then take advantage of this information to ask for the right sum and avoid getting low-balled.

Why Research Employers? Top 4 Reasons

At this point, the reason for researching employers should be pretty self-explanatory, but we thought we’d cover the topic just in case!

The 4 main reasons for researching a company are:

• Get an edge over the interview. Employers love it when you’re knowledgeable about their company. After all, they want to hire people who want to work there specifically, not the ones that are just randomly applying everywhere. The more company knowledge you demonstrate during the interview, the more likely it is that you’ll get the job.
• Uncover red flags (and avoid bad employers). You can find a lot of skeletons in company closets if you just do some research online. This can actually help you save a ton of time and effort from applying (or getting hired) at the wrong place.
• Find the right job for you. There are a lot of companies out there - not all of them are the right fit for you. By researching companies online, you’ll be able to tell right from wrong more easily.
• Negotiate a better salary. You can find information on average salaries at a specific company online, so you have a better idea of what kind of range you can ask for.

Key Takeaways

And that just about sums up all you need to know about researching a company online! Before you go, though, let’s do a quick recap of what we learned:

• When researching an employer, start by looking at their website and social media pages to learn more about their culture and product/service.
• Look up news about the company to avoid employers with recent scandals.
• Find company reviews on Glassdoor and uncover potential employer red flags.
• Use LinkedIn to find people who work at the company you’re applying for and reach out to ask questions about the job or the employer.
• Use all the information you learn from researching the company to get an edge over the interview and negotiate a better salary.

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How to Research a Company for an Interview: 10 Steps

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Interview Preparation

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

In the next 10 minutes, I’m going to show you exactly how to research a company for your job interview.

You want to go into the interview feeling ready and confident, and you don’t want to embarrass yourself.

That’s what good pre-interview research can do for you.

But what’s the fastest and easiest way to get enough information about a company to avoid interview mistakes and make a great first impression? And what exactly should you be researching?

Keep reading for everything you need to know…

How to Research a Company for a Job Interview

1. research the company website.

Go to the business’ website and find out about what products or services they provide. What do they sell and how do they make money? Why might the company’s clients choose them?

Learn anything you can about the company culture , too. Click buttons like “About Us” or “Meet Our Team” when you’re on the company website.

Then visit their “Careers” section to see what jobs are posted in general. Make sure you’re familiar with the job description and get a feel for the other jobs they’re hiring for.

Finally, see if the company has a mission statement. Knowing the company’s mission will help you understand what they care most about, so that you can show these traits in the job interview.

This is the longest step in the process of researching a company, but it’ll give you a ton of information you can use in your answers, and knowing more about them will help you explain why you wanted to apply for the job .

2. Search Google News for Recent Company Developments

This is a relatively short step, but still important for how to research a company before your interview.

As you conduct company research, go to Google News to read some recent developments and press releases, so you can get a sense of what the company is working on.

Find a piece of good news, a recent change, acquisition or new project, or anything else you can find about the company online.

You’ll notice more info available for large companies, but you may still find valuable news articles and stories for smaller companies, too.

Your goal in this research, for each of your target companies, is to find one action they took recently that you can ask about in the interview.

For example, you’d ask, “I read you recently did ___, can you tell me more about that?”

They’ll be impressed that you know the latest news about them.

Most job seekers are asking boring, generic questions in the interview (like, “What is your company’s mission?”)

So if you can ask a question about a recent news story, it’s going to set you apart.

Here are 27 more unique questions job seekers can ask in the interview.

That brings me to one other piece of job search and career advice: Never ask a question that could be answered on the company’s website.

3. Review the Company’s Social Media Accounts

Next, research the company’s Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social profiles to see recent news you might have missed on Google News in step 2. You might see pictures of employee outings too, etc. You’ll get a great sense of the company culture and the type of people who work there.

This will give you more fuel and ideas for questions you can ask in the interview too.

For example, you could ask, “I saw on Facebook you recently had a company charity event. Can you tell me about what else the company does to facilitate team-building and/or charitable giving in the community? It’s great that those are a part of your company’s values. That’s something I’m looking for in an employer.”

You can also look for the company on YouTube. Do a quick search and see if they have a channel.

More and more companies are sharing video content, so this is a worthwhile step in terms of how to research a company very thoroughly before you talk to them.

You might also see their office in a video which will make you more comfortable when you arrive for an interview. You’ll feel like you’ve been there before.

4. Competitor Research

If you really want to impress the company with how much you researched them before the interview, head over to similarweb.com , type the company name or website into the search bar, and then find the button that says “similar sites”.

Click it and you’ll see companies that are similar to the company you’re interviewing at. Try to find a few key differences and similarities, so you can show you understand the whole marketplace and industry, not just the company you’re interviewing with.

If you do this, most hiring managers will be VERY impressed.

If you’re interviewing in a new industry this becomes even more important. But it’s a great step for anyone who wants to research a company before a job interview.

5. Research Employees on LinkedIn

Search on LinkedIn to find employees of the company. Better yet, find people in the same type of group or role that you’re interviewing for. What type of background do they have? You might spot a trend for the type of person a company likes to hire.

This research will help you understand what the company looks for in the hiring process, so that you’ll be better prepared for questions they throw at you in the interview.

LinkedIn isn’t just a great job search resource , it’s also a powerful research tool. If you don’t already have an account that’s active and up-to-date, you should definitely make one. If you’re not convinced, here are 5 reasons you should use LinkedIn .

6. Research the Hiring Manager

Next, use LinkedIn to research the hiring manager’s background.

How long have they been with the company?

What’s their educational background?

What previous jobs have they worked to get to the point they’re at?

This is a great way to prepare to pass your interview . You might even see something you have in common with the hiring manager, such as a sport you played in college.

And if not, you’ll still know more about them than most candidates going in for the interview. So it’ll be easier to bond and build rapport, or talk about topics that they’re familiar with.

7. Industry Research

Next, if you’re attending a job interview in an unfamiliar industry, you should go beyond researching the company and also dig into the industry overall.

Browse social media accounts of other businesses in the industry, read a few trade publications online, see what types of jobs are posted in this industry, and more.

What types of products and services does the industry provide in general?

What are some of the latest developments happening?

What are some common types of jobs in the industry?

You can look at industry news in Google, check company social media accounts, and more to gather this information.

8. Research the Company’s Job Interview Process

There are a variety of websites that allow job seekers to write about their job search experience and which interview questions they faced. So I recommend searching Google for terms like “<Company Name> interview questions” and “<Company Name> interview process.”

You won’t find information about this for every employer, but you should find some hints about the interview process for most large employers, which can be a big aid in your job search.

Then, you’ll know how to better prepare for your job interview to show you’re a fit for the company’s culture and role.

9. Read Employee Reviews

Next, consider visiting a site like Glassdoor.com to read reviews from current and past employees.

This may give you more hints about how the company operates, which will help you prepare great interview answers.

You’ll also gain valuable information to help you decide if you do or don’t want to work for this company!

You may spot a red flag or two that you’d like to ask about in the interview.

You wouldn’t have found this on a casual visit to the company’s website. So reading reviews from real employees will give you a better understanding of what your life will be like if you accept their job.

Those are the best steps you can take for pre-interview company research. I recommend doing everything above if you have time.

10. Additional Research for Public Companies

If a company is publicly traded, it must release an annual report, quarterly financial statements, and more.

You can see their stock price, read recent stock news, and more.

For public companies, you’ll often see an “investor relations” button when you visit the company website (usually in the site footer).

You can also search for the company name on a website like Google Finance to read about their financial health and explore recent financial data and statements.

This doesn’t need to be an in-depth, time-consuming step when researching a company, but it’s worth noting whether they’re publicly traded or not, and how the company’s stock is doing.

Final Step: Review Your Company Research

Now you know what to research about a company before the interview.

As a final step, make sure you can answer these questions about a company:

• Who is the CEO ?
• When/why was the company founded?
• Does the company have one or multiple locations? And where are they headquartered?
• How does the company make money? What do they sell and who is their typical customer?
• Why do their customers choose them?
• How are they different from their competitors?
• How would you describe the company culture?
• Does the company have a mission statement or a reason why they were founded?
• What do you know about the hiring manager’s background? How long have they been with the company?

Use that as a checklist to make sure you’ve researched the company enough before your interview.

Now that you know how to research a company before a job interview, you’re going to be able to make a better impression on recruiters and hiring managers, and turn more interviews into job offers !

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

2 thoughts on “How to Research a Company for an Interview: 10 Steps”

This was VERY resourceful. Thanks so much for the helpful tips.

Great list. Thank you!

Comments are closed.

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Find a Job You Really Want In

In order to land your dream job , you’ll need to set yourself apart from other candidates in your cover letter, resume, and interview by showing off your stellar qualifications and winning personality.

One of the ways you can do this is by researching the company so that you know and can talk about how you align with their values and why you’re the candidate they’ve been searching for.

Key Takeaways:

When researching a company, look for their values, presence in the news, and gauge their financial health.

Use the company’s website and social media to help you figure who will be working with and for.

Give yourself plenty of time to research a company and take notes while you do for future reference.

Researching a company gives you an edge in the application and interview process.

What To Look For When Researching A Company

Tips for researching a company, why researching a company is important.

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Although researching a company is pretty straightforward, it is still important to break down the process into three key steps.

Schedule time to do research. Give yourself the time to do adequate research. 15 minutes to an hour should be plenty of time. This depends on your level of interest with the company, but be reasonable. Your research does not have to be exhaustive, just enough for you to get a good idea of the company with enough information to help you apply and/or interview.

Go online and look for important factors. When researching a company you want to get an accurate portrayal of the company and make yourself a more informed applicant. Factors such as the company’s values, what benefits it offers, who their competitors are, who works at the company, who is boss , and what type of mission will you help fulfill can all point you in the right direction.

Depending on how much time you have, you may need to prioritize these factors. Base them on what is important to you and what would be important for the job application process.

Take notes and write down questions. Make sure to retain some record of your research. It can be very helpful during the application and interview process. You may find information that will help you tailor your resume and cover letter , or you may find you have questions you would want answered in an interview.

By following these steps you can ensure you are doing your best to learn about a potential employer.

When you’re researching a company, there are a few things you want to be sure to find out about the organization.

Look for the company’s values and make sure they align with yours. This should be one of the most effortless pieces of information to find about an organization, as most companies post them on their websites along with their mission and vision.

Even if they aren’t specifically labeled as such, the pages providing information about the organization should give you some idea about what the company’s focus is.

Once you find them, ask yourself if those are values you can get behind. If you can’t, that may be a sign that this position isn’t a good fit for you.

Research employee benefits the company provides. As you probably know, asking about benefits in the first few interviews is a big no-no. Knowing about the benefits policies early on can be incredibly helpful in your decision-making process , though.

The good news is that many organizations share at least the basics of these policies on their websites, so you can look them up yourself.

Search for articles featuring the company. Reading about an organization from someone else’s perspective can give you more insight than you would get from simply perusing the company’s website.

You’ll be able to find awards they won, achievements they’ve made, and charities they’ve donated to, as well as any negative press they’ve been involved with.

Just make sure you do your research to ensure this information is from reliable sources before you mention it in an interview (and use extreme caution when talking about negative stories).

Look up the company’s main competitors. Having this knowledge at your fingertips can be useful for your general understanding of the company and your ability to answer interview questions , as hiring managers may want to see how well you understand the company and industry.

Find information about your potential future boss. It can be helpful to understand who exactly you’d be working for at the company, so don’t be afraid to do a little research in this arena as well.

Gauge the financial health of the company. While you don’t need to look up enough information to do a full financial analysis or uncover any wrongdoing, getting at least a general idea of the financial state of the organization will help you understand it better and give you a great conversation tool.

Usually, companies (especially large ones) will have publicly available financial reports on their websites. These were made for their investors, and they often include great information about potential growth areas, risky or weak spots, and an overview of their revenue.

Whenever you bring up information that you’ve gleaned from your research in an interview, always make sure you’re adding something relevant and valuable to the conversation.

Don’t just try to show off, because hiring managers can spot that from a mile away and won’t be impressed.

So now that you know what information you’re looking for when you’re researching a company, you need to know how to go about finding it:

Visit the company website. This should always be your first stop because it’s a gold mine of basic information such as the mission, vision, and values, employee directories, news stories, and blog posts.

Browse social media. Take a look at all of the company’s pages, paying special attention to their interactions with their followers. Does it seem like the organization truly cares about its clients by responding to their comments and questions and taking care of complaints?

Look up the company on LinkedIn. When you do this, you’ll not only find posts and articles about the company, but you’ll also be able to see job openings, company statistics, and employees who you may know at the organization.

Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to research. It may take more digging than you’d think to find all of the information than you’re looking for, so make sure you don’t leave this task until the evening before your interview.

Talk to industry experts about the company you’re applying to. If you can, it may be worth asking someone else in the same industry about their perceptions of the organization and the particular position you’re applying for .

If you ask a competitor, remember that their opinion might be biased, but generally, people who have experience in the industry can provide some valuable insight no matter who they work for.

Make notes of the questions you want to ask. No matter how good your memory is, your brain is going to be running at full capacity on the day of your interview, so make sure you give it some help and write down anything you want to ask as you research.

Researching a company before an interview is important for several reasons:

You give yourself an edge in the application and interview processes. By putting in the work to understand the company, you’ll be able to show better why you would be an asset to the organization. You can do this through both your cover letter and interview .

Also, doing your research ahead of time allows you to avoid asking questions that you could answer for yourself easily with a quick Google search. This way, you show that you’re taking the process seriously and have put in the effort to understand what you’re getting into.

You can confidently answer the interview question, “ What do you know about our company? This is a general interview question, so it’s a good idea to be prepared for it.

When you answer, mention the basics such as their mission, vision, and values, but then add something more specific as well to show that you’ve done your research.

You can learn about the company’s business operations. By researching, you can ask intelligent questions that show that you’re interested in the position and support the organization as a whole.

This is important because hiring managers want someone who will jump in and join the rest of the team in pursuing the larger mission. Plus, a hire who already knows how a company works is easier to train and will become productive much more quickly.

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Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.

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How To Research a Company for a Job Interview

7 Ways to Find Out What You Need to Know Before the Big Day

Visit the Company Website

Browse social media, use linkedin, get an interview edge, use google and google news, tap your connections, get to know the industry and competitors, how to use this research during interviews.

You may have heard the advice that it’s important to have some questions for the hiring manager when you’re interviewing for a job. It’s true that interviewers will expect you to be curious and interested in their organization, and they'll expect to show that by asking questions, but it’s also true that you should come to the interview with a good baseline of knowledge about the company.

Hopefully, you’ll learn a lot about the company during the interview—like whether the organization and the company culture are a good fit for you, for example. But during the interview is not the time to learn basic information about the company. You should know all that before you set foot in corporate HQ. 

The good news is that it’s easier than ever before to learn about an employer before the job interview. Take some time, in advance, to learn as much as you can online. Then, tap into your real-world network to see who you know who can help give you an interview edge over the other candidates. Do your research, and you’ll make a much better impression on the hiring manager. Here are tips for researching companies before the interview.

Start by visiting the company website. There, you can review the organization's mission statement and history, products and services, and management, as well as information about the company culture. The information is usually available in the "About Us" section of the site. If there's a Press section of the website, read through the featured links there.

Pay attention to themes that come up repeatedly on the site. As much as any stated corporate values, the words companies choose to describe themselves are telling. Do you want to work at a place where people are “driven to excellence,” or does that make you feel tired? Do you like the idea of working with people who consider their coworkers family, or do you need more distance between your job and your personal life? Of course, organizations use hyperbole when talking about themselves... but it’s often pretty telling hyperbole.

Next, check the company's social media accounts. Visit their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. This will give you a good sense of how the company wants its consumers to see it. Like or follow the company to get updates. You'll find some information you may not have found otherwise.

You may also uncover some red flags. If the organization doesn’t have a professionally managed social media presence, for example, or if it’s updated sporadically and inconsistently, they might not be totally in control of their public image.

LinkedIn company profiles are a good way to find, at a glance, more information on a company you're interested in. You'll be able to see your connections at the company, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics. If you have connections at the company, consider reaching out to them. Not only can they put in a good word for you, but they may also share their perspective on the company and give you tips that will help you ace the interview.

Take a look at your interviewer's LinkedIn profile to get insight into their job and their background, as well. Look for any common links between you. Do you know the same people? Did you go to the same school? Are you part of the same groups, online or off? Those common links could help you establish rapport during the interview process. 

Consider looking up the company on Glassdoor . Their Interview Questions and Reviews section has a goldmine of information for job seekers.

You can find out what candidates for the positions you are interviewing for were asked and get advice on how tough the interview was. Use reviews to help get a sense of company culture. That said, take them with a grain of salt—employees are often most likely to leave reviews when they are unhappy. As you read reviews, look for repeated themes. The more mentions a given subject gets (whether it's praise for flexible hours or frustration with senior management) the more likely it is to be accurate.

Search both Google and Google News for the company name. This can be invaluable. You may find out that the company is expanding into Asia, for instance, or recently received a round of start-up funding. Or, you may find out that a recent product underperformed or had to be recalled. This knowledge can help shape your responses to interview questions.

Do you know someone who works at the company? Ask them if they can help.

If you're a college grad, ask your career office if they can give you a list of alumni who work there. Then email them, send a LinkedIn message, or call and ask for assistance.

As well as researching the company, it makes sense to review the overall industry. If you're interviewing for a job at a mortgage company, for instance, it's helpful to be informed about current homeownership trends. Get to know the company's biggest competitors and identify their successes and flaws, too. Insight into the company's industry and rivals are bound to impress interviewers.

During a job interview, interviewers ask questions to get to know candidates . But their main goal is to determine if a candidate will be a good fit for the position and company.

Your company research will make your responses to questions compelling and show that you'll be helpful to their goals and bottom line.

Plus, your knowledge will help you give a specific answer if you're asked why you'd like to work for the company. You can share details about things you find admirable about the company, its mission, or its culture.

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How to Research a Company

If you want to be fully prepared for a job interview , the first step is to find out as much as you can about the company and the position you are applying for. However, this is easier said than done. Researching a company can be difficult, especially if the company has a limited online presence. Here are some ideas that you can use to get the information you need.

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Looking for more ways to prepare? Read our article on the most common interview questions .

How to Research a Company:

Our complete, step-by-step guide on how to successfully research a company.

Researching a company.

Talk to friends or colleagues..

If you are lucky enough to know someone who has firsthand experience with the company or institution you are applying to, find out more from them.

• Visit their website.

By reading through the website of the place you'd like to work for, you'll be able to ascertain many things. You'll be able to gauge the level of professionalism, get an idea of the company culture, and even find out who works there.

However, be aware that whatever is published on the website will be biased . A company or institution could, for example, claim to be ethical, innovative, and efficient, but their customer reviews might tell a different story.

• Visit their social media pages.

By visiting an institution's social media and LinkedIn pages, you'll be able to get a better grasp of who they are, what projects and initiatives they've run, and also the type of people they work with. Aside from customer reviews that might be found on these pages, be aware that the company or institution still controls the type of content they post here, so it's highly subjective.

Try their products or services.

Testing out the company or institution's offerings should give you an idea of the kind of work you might be expected to do once you are hired. Engaging with the company via email or phone will help you form an opinion on the brand and overall customer service.

• Use Google for an online search.

When you Google the company or institution, you'll find information not available on the website or social media pages. Skimming through news articles and customer and employee reviews will help you gain a better perspective of the company or institution. Reading through unbiased articles will be useful in identifying any potential red flags.

Research a Company Before Your Interview.

Researching a company can be useful if you want to impress the hiring manager or whoever is doing the interview. When asked "Why should we hire you?" you can give an authoritative answer with your views on the company culture, products or services, work ethic, or company values.

For your own personal reference, researching the company will give you an idea of the workplace environment, employee satisfaction rates, working hours, community projects, advancement programs, and potential for growth.

More Interview Resources:

• How to Prepare for a Job Interview .
• How to Answer: "What are your weaknesses?"
• How to Answer: "Why Do You Want to Work Here?"
• How to Answer: “What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?”
• How to Answer: "Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?"
• How To Write A Follow-Up Email After An Interview .

How do you research a company before a job interview?

• Talk to friends or colleagues who have worked there.
• Try their services or products.

Why is it important to research a company?

Researching a company will give you an idea of the company culture, employee satisfaction rates, working hours, management style, workplace environment, and potential for growth. It will also give you information which you can use to answer questions in an interview.

What can you learn by researching a company before a job interview?

• Information about company products and services.
• Employee satisfaction rates.
• Average working hours.
• Information about the company culture.
• Company values.
• Community projects.
• Advancement programs.
• Potential for growth.
• Sales/acquisitions.

What information should you look for when you research a company?

• Recent sales/acquisitions.
• Products and services.

What is the easiest way to research a company?

• Visit their website .
• Use Google for an online search .

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Free background check services, how to do employee background checks, employer branding, how to get a job, resume tips.

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If you're looking for where a company or subsidiary is officially registered check their location in one of the database below and then check the official government website for the relevant state to find official documentation.  Here is an example of the Delaware website , a popular state where many companies register.

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This directory features listings across the government, corporations, and nonprofit organizations. Find individuals holding high-level positions and their support staff or locate departments, agencies, major offices, and smaller bureaus by subject areas or organization.

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7 Popular Sources for Company Information and Research

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• Understanding a company’s financial health and key business segments
• Identifying and qualifying potential customers, affiliates, and suppliers
• Searching for investment and acquisition targets
• Capitalizing on a competitor’s weaknesses
• Increasing sales by understanding a clients’ businesses better
• Tracking corporate news such as restructuring, business expansion, and contract wins
• Accessing key employees to initiate business deals

You can easily find detailed company information and research on MarketResearch.com, where we provide thousands of company reports across every major industry around the globe. These company reports are produced by a variety of market research companies, bringing you important information in a quick-to-read downloadable PDF format.

Here are seven popular market research firms featured on our website that produce company reports. If you already have a specific company in mind that you’d like to research, you can type the company’s name into the search bar on our homepage to pull up immediate results.

1.  GlobalData   is a leading source of actionable insight into the consumer goods, technology, and healthcare sectors. GlobalData publishes different types of company profiles; some provide a concise strategic SWOT analysis and financial review, while others are more extensive and outline specific pipeline products in development and ongoing clinical trials.

2. MarketLine   is one of the most prolific publishers of business information today. Its reports are designed to provide a 360-degree view of the company and may include a detailed SWOT analysis, strategy case studies, and merger and acquisition deals. MarketLine presents information in an easy-to-read format, so you can absorb key information in minutes, not hours.

3. Euromonitor International has served as a premier source of worldwide business insights and market analysis for more than four decades. Euromonitor International publishes a wide variety of reports that focus on different types of markets. In addition to broader market reports, Euromonitor publishes company profile reports that offer detailed strategic analysis of a company's business operations, market share, performance, and future prospects.

4. Plunkett Research, Ltd.   is a leading publisher of business and industry research. Its corporate benchmark reports provide deep company-specific financial metrics, benchmarking, industry rankings, and other vital statistics that will save countless hours of research. These reports are designed to benefit investment professionals, lenders, M&A advisors, appraisers, and consultants.

5. NelsonHall is a premier independent research analyst firm in business process outsourcing (BPO). The company provides buy-side and sell-side organizations with deeper research and analyses in major BPO disciplines such as finance and accounting, human resources, procurement, banking, insurance, government, and customer management services. Its reports provide comprehensive and objective analysis of company service offerings, capabilities, and market and financial strength.

6. IDC is a leading provider of market intelligence for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. While many IDC reports focus on broad industry categories, it also publishes market notes and vendor profiles that put company news in context and share observations from major industry events.

7. VPGMarketResearch.com produces a competitive analysis series of reports that includes assessments of more than 1,000 companies worldwide. These reports cover organizational developments, acquisitions and divestitures, marketing tactics, financial results, strengths and weaknesses, and strategic directions. Clients use these reports to benchmark performance, evaluate prospective acquisitions, and validate internal data and insights.

Search our website to find market research reports for your business, or download our free white paper for tips on using syndicated research for identifying business opportunities.

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How to Research a Company for a Job Interview

As the world continues to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, your opportunities for employment may be growing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says more companies are hiring, including those focused on health care and social assistance. In a survey conducted by staffing company Robert Half, job openings still outnumber candidates nearly 2 to 1.

If you’re job hunting, this is good news. When preparing for an interview, make sure to research the company's mission, reputation, finances, and more. This can help you appear as a knowledgeable, informed candidate to a recruiter or hiring manager when answering interview questions.

Here are 10 ways to conduct company research for an interview.

10 Things You Should Check Out Before Your Interview

1. visit the company website.

Learn about the company from the “About Us” section or any “Meet Our Team” section. These pages will give you an overview of the company, but be aware that these pages may be more geared toward attracting customers or clients. You might be able to get more insight about the job itself if the company has a “Careers” page.

Additionally, more job seekers are placing emphasis on a company’s values. In a recent article , Caitlin Duffy, research director at research and consulting firm Gartner, said, “You could call it the ‘Great Reflection.’ … It’s critical to deliver value and purpose.” Check out the company’s values page, mission statement, and any company culture page to gain more insight.

2. Check on the Company’s Financial Health

You don’t want to get involved with a financially troubled company. Investopedia says the single best indicator of a company’s financial health and long-term viability is its bottom line profit margin.

For many large companies, you should be able to find this and more financial information from a company’s quarterly earnings report, annual report, or conference calls with investors, the latter of which you might find on YouTube. If you’re interviewing with a startup, check out its profile on Crunchbase .

3. Learn About the Skills the Company Requires

You should be able to find out a lot in a job posting, including a general description, duties, education, experience requirements, and possibly starting salary range.

Also, take a good look at what they’re looking for in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities. With this information, you should be able to decide what the company is seeking in a qualified candidate. This can help you position yourself in your interview.

>>Learn More: The Top 8 Soft Skills That Employers Want

4. Browse Social Media

Many companies are using social media to present themselves. According to Statista , 92.1% of larger U.S. companies used social media for marketing in 2022, up from 86.2% in 2013. The way social media is used can give you insight into companies.

Search out the company’s Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) pages to gain a sense of how the company wants to be perceived. You can also spot some red flags this way, such as a less-than-professional presence.

Also, it never hurts to check out the company on YouTube.

5. Explore LinkedIn

According to LinkedIn , more than 65 million companies use the site to connect with consumers, other companies, and prospective employees.

Companies share a lot of information on this platform, so make yourself familiar with it. You can see a company’s hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and statistics. You can also see who they interact with.

You should search LinkedIn for people who are employed at the company. Learn about the company by looking at their employees’ experiences.

6. Search Google and Google News

Google is a valuable tool, beginning with its wide-ranging Search feature . Look for a company’s name and see what turns up. You may find out the company’s tactics, recent news releases, or plans.

Use the News tab to find out if the company has been in the news lately. You might find out whether the company has been having difficulties or had products recalled.

7. Use Glassdoor and Other Employee Sites

Glassdoor says 83% of its users are actively looking for jobs or are open to new opportunities. Explore the company’s Glassdoor listing, including their Interview Questions and Reviews section for valuable information for job seekers.

You can also see whether employees have left comments about the company — but recognize that sometimes the more disgruntled an employee is, the more likely they are to post.

8. Research the Field and Competitors

It is a good idea to research the competitors of the company you’re interviewing with. That can help clarify for you the company’s mission and needs.

Head to similarweb.com , type the company’s name, and then click “similar sites.” You can also look up competitors on LinkedIn by seeing what recommendations you get if you click on the interviewing company’s page.

9. Mine Your Current Connections

If you know someone who works at the company now, ask them for their insight. Check with other friends to see if they have friends who work there. This is where your own personal network can help out.

Networking events could also connect you with the right people to find out more information. It’s a good idea to keep building your network.

10. Find Out About the Hiring Manager

Lastly, before the interview, research the hiring manager or your interviewer on LinkedIn. Find out what you can about them, and see if there are any commonalities you share. This can give you an advantage during the interview because you’ll have a better chance of connecting with them and sparking a meaningful conversation.

>>Learn More: How to Tackle Tough Interview Questions

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How to research a company before you take the job

When searching for a job or internship, you want to ensure that the company or organization you pursue matches your values and goals. Not only do you need to learn the responsibilities and functions for positions of interest, but you’ll also benefit from learning the company culture and workplace norms. Here are tips to help you figure out whether a company or organization is a good fit for you. 

Determine your values and goals 

Start by working to understand what you want from a work environment. For example, do you want to be part of a larger or smaller team or work in person versus remote. Career Services has two free online resources you can use to get started. 

Career Values Card Sort

The Career Values Card Sort is a simple, free and fun self-reflection tool to help you consider what workplace values matter most to you. The results can help you: 

• Determine whether potential jobs or companies align with your values.  
• Start the conversation about your job search when meeting with a career advisor. 

Life Values Inventory

The Life Values Inventory can help you clarify your values and serve as a blueprint for effective decision-making and optimal functioning.  

• You’ll need to create a free account to use this tool. 
• You answer questions about your values and actions. 
• You receive results to connect your values with strategies to flourish in your career. 

Research online 

You can use online tools to research companies that interest you.  

Read company reviews on Glassdoor

Glassdoor is a crowdsourced platform where current and former employees can write reviews about a workplace. Use the review to: 

• Learn patterns in management. 
• Explore and compare benefits. 
• Evaluate the overall workplace experience. 
• Look for patterns in feedback. Keep in mind that reviews reflect individual experiences and perspectives. 

Scan the company’s online presence

By researching the company’s online presence, you can identify the values, mission, DEI presence and more. 

• Review the company website. 
• Follow their social media accounts, including LinkedIn. 
• Read news and other articles about the company. 
• Consider whether the values on the website align with or contradict the information written about the company by others. 

Connect with people in the industry 

Take advantage of opportunities to speak directly with representatives from organizations. As a student, you can tap into resources offered by Career Services and the Forever Buffs network to learn about specific industries and companies. 

Informational interviews

An informational interview is a free way to seek advice and information from a professional in your field of interest. To make the most of informational interviews: 

• Connect with professionals through the Forever Buffs Network or LinkedIn. 
• Research the person and the organization they work for. 
• Prepare questions and topics to discuss during your meeting. 

Career fairs 

Career Fairs are another way to interact with company employees and get information on the company culture. 

• Ask similar questions as you would in an informational interview. 
• Remember that you will only have time to ask one or two questions, and if you want to talk more, request their contact information. 

Keep investigating  

As your job search progresses, you will have continued opportunities to ask questions and investigate the organization. During an internship, you can take steps to understand the workplace vibe and how to integrate into the environment and culture. An internship allows you to have an inside view of a company before you make a long-term commitment. 

Preparing for interviews

Once you get to the interview stage, you can ask questions and pay attention to learn more about the company’s values. 

• Consider how the interviewer treats you. Are they communicating respectfully? 
• Is the interviewer providing clear, honest and straightforward responses? 
• Is the company demonstrating a commitment to collaboration and inclusion through diversity initiatives, employee resource groups or partnerships with diverse organizations? 
• Is the company investing in employee growth through training programs, mentorship opportunities and a clear career progression plan? 
• Ask questions to help you understand the company’s commitment to work-life balance. 

During an internship

Make the most of your internship by learning about the company culture and whether you like the work environment. 

• Talk with your new co-workers. Be engaged and ask questions. 
• Pay attention to team dynamics, including how people communicate and how management interacts with the team. 
• Find a mentor who can help you navigate the expectations and help you learn and understand your role and growth opportunities. 
• Be intentional about how you present yourself. While you want to be authentic, you also benefit by remaining professional and making a positive impression.

Career Services provides tools and resources to help support and empower students during their job search process. Learn how to look for green flags during an interview , and check out workshops on networking and interviewing . 

How to research a company: Top tips and tricks

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Researching a company before an interview is crucial for a successful job application. It is important to know how to research a company properly as the information revealed can be used in at least three stages of the job application process. This article will explain the importance of researching a company, when it is most useful, and how to do it effectively when preparing for an interview.

How to research a company?

Conducting research on a company before an interview can have a significant impact on your decision and chances of getting the position. It is generally beneficial to research a company before applying for any position. Therefore it is important to know how to research a company effectively and what to research about a company before an interview. Here are some steps to research a company:

1. Talk to friends or colleagues.

If you happen to have a connection with someone who knows about the company you're looking into, talk to them to gather more information about the company.

2. Visit their website.

When you explore the website of the company you're interested in joining, you can discover various details. This helps you understand their professionalism, grasp their company culture, and identify their employees.

Remember, the information on the website might have a certain perspective. While a company might present itself as ethical, creative, and productive, customer reviews might offer a more balanced view of their actual performance. This is why researching a company thoroughly is important.

3. Visit their social media pages.

When you check out a company's social media and LinkedIn profiles, you can gain a clearer understanding of their identity, the projects they've undertaken, and the individuals they collaborate with. While these platforms may also host customer reviews, remember that the content posted is managed by the company, making it somewhat biased and subjective. So, it's essential to dig deeper when researching a company.

4. Try their products or services.

When you try out the products or services of the company you're interested in, you can gain insight into the tasks you could handle if you join them. Getting in touch through email or phone allows you to develop an impression of the company's brand and their customer service quality. This active approach is an important part of researching a company thoroughly.

5. Use Google for an online search.

A Google search about the company or institution can uncover details that aren't present on their official website or social media profiles. By scanning news articles and reviews from customers and employees, you can develop a more comprehensive understanding of the organization. It's also valuable to read impartial articles to spot any potential concerns while researching a company.

Top Tips on How to research a Company

Here are the top tips on how to research a company that will help you ace your interviews:

1. Start With the Employer’s Website

Where's the best place to begin learning about a potential employer? Well, start by visiting their main website. Look for these details:

• What do they make or do? Is it something you find interesting?
• How big is the company? Are they a new company, a really big one, or somewhere in between?
• What's the work atmosphere like? Is it more relaxed or formal?
• Do they have rules about what to wear?
• Can you find info about how you can grow with the company on their website?

When you're looking for a job, you can use this information in two big ways. First, you can decide if the company's way of doing things matches what you like. If you're a young worker who likes flexible hours and doesn't like wearing fancy clothes, a company like Goldman Sachs might not be the best fit. If you see that a company's style doesn't match yours, it could be a good idea to look for other places to apply.

On the other hand, having this info can also help a lot in your job interview. Usually, interviewers will ask if you know about their company. The more you know, the more interested you seem. This could make the interviewer pick you instead of other people.

2. Find Company Employees via LinkedIn

LinkedIn can be a helpful tool to discover who's currently part of the company you're researching. For instance, if you search for "People" within the "Apple" page on LinkedIn, you'll find a list of their employees from around the world. You can then narrow it down by location (like Austin, Texas) and job role (such as Marketing).

So, how does this info come in handy? Firstly, you can connect with someone working in the department you're interested in and ask them questions about the company, its culture, the department, or the job you're applying for.

But remember, it's important not to come across as too pushy. The people you reach out to aren't obligated to reply. However, if you approach them politely, there's a good chance you'll get a response. In the best situation, if they appreciate your questions and your proactive attitude, they might even introduce you personally to the team leader or the head of that department!

3. Look Up News About the Employer  

Search for the company's name and click on "News" to find out their recent activities. Check the Latest News. You can also locate such details on the News or Blog section of the company's website. This kind of information is really useful in a few ways:

• It helps you steer clear of companies that have been in recent trouble.
• It impresses the interviewer when you show you're aware of what's happening with the company.
• You can get more insight into the company's recent progress. For instance, you can find out about their latest products, countries they're growing into, and more.

4. Look Up Company Reviews on Glassdoor

Glassdoor is a website where employees share reviews about their employers. You can go there to read reviews about the company and the CEO. Plus, you can find out details like:

• Average salaries for different jobs.
• Feedback on how interviews go.
• Thoughts on the company's benefits.
• And much more!

This info can help you find an employer that fits you well, negotiate the right pay, or avoid companies with unhappy workers and bad reviews.

5. Tap Into Your Network

With LinkedIn, you can check if anyone you know is working at the company you're looking into. Then, you can simply get in touch with them and ask about the job or the company. If you have a good relationship with the person (or have worked with them before), you can even directly ask them to recommend you for the job!

6. Research Company’s Social Media Pages

Explore the company's social media accounts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. This gives you an idea of how they talk to their audience.

By following them, you'll get updates whenever they share something. You can also show your support by liking and commenting on their posts. This might get their attention, particularly if it's a smaller company.

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7. Look Up Posts on Social Media 

You can search on social media to find out what people are saying about the company. This gives you a more neutral understanding of the organization. For instance, you can use a search like this: site:reddit.com "apple" "job" on Google to find all the Reddit discussions about Apple as an employer.

8. Get an Edge on the Interview Process With Glassdoor

By checking out the Interview Q&A Section on Glassdoor, you can find the actual questions that employers pose to their interviewees. This is super helpful for getting ready for your upcoming interview and getting a sense of the types of questions you might encounter.

9. Learn About Company Salary Averages

A tool like Comparably can be really handy. It helps you find out the average salaries for the specific company and the role you're interested in. This information is gold for negotiating the right salary and making sure you're not offered less than you deserve.

Why should you research a company?

By now, you probably see the clear benefits of researching companies, but we'll go over it just to make sure! Here are the top 4 reasons to dive into company research:

• Shine in Interviews: Employers really appreciate candidates who know about their company. They want to hire folks genuinely interested in joining them, not those randomly applying everywhere. The more you know about the company during the interview, the better your chances of landing the job.
• Spot Warning Signs : With some online research, you can uncover any hidden problems a company might have. This can save you lots of time and effort by avoiding the wrong places to work.
• Find Your Fit : Not all companies are a match for you. By researching companies online, you can quickly figure out which ones align with your values and goals.
• Negotiate Smart : Online resources provide info about average salaries at specific companies. Armed with this knowledge, you're better equipped to discuss your salary range during negotiations.

So there you have it, solid reasons to invest time in researching companies before making big career decisions!

Before you spend time filling an application for a particular job, there are specific steps you should take and certain company parameters you should consider before going ahead in the process. Why? For one, it will help you filter the companies and the jobs that actually suit you, that sponsor a work permit and that you are qualified for. Secondly, researching the company before applying can make a huge difference to your responses. Instead of writing generic answers in the form, you can customize your responses and align them with the organization’s larger purpose.

Bawani Chan, a law student from Malaysia, has attended several assessment centers. Her advice? ‘You have to know the main aims, goals, and the business of the company you have applied to. That’s non-negotiable.’ 

If you want your application to embody the company’s values, you need first to acquaint yourself with those values. Then, when you show recruiters that your values align with the company values, you give a compelling yet implicit hint about your suitability for the role. It is the knowledge of such minor details that led Christy Simanjuntak to her current position as Global Credit Analyst at HSBC UK . ‘I think it is helpful to look at the company values as well. For example, Barclays emphasizes on Service, Stewardship, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence ’, Christy advises prospective applicants.

Dhruvin Patel, Founder at Ocushield , shares more insight from the employer’s perspective, “ Most candidates only look at the website, I think it’s worth digging deeper – check what the latest news about the company is, check their company pages on LinkedIn, etc. A candidate saying, “I love what you do here with xyz”, would stick out for me. Bonus points if the candidate brings something to the table, too: if they have a suggestion to make, or suggestion as to how they’d perform a certain activity in the company – that shows me that they’re proactive, they’re rolling out ideas & have got their thinking cap on. ”

Very often, applicants read the job description but are at a loss to imagine what the job exactly entails. To beat this information lacuna, we have one word for you: networking. For such vital but amorphous questions, you can meet recruiters at the careers fairs or talks at your University. Alternatively, you can also reach out to someone who is either currently working in the same position or worked in the past, on LinkedIn, or on your University alumni network.

The underlying principle of all your research should be two-fold: show the company that you are ready to go the extra mile and assess your suitability for the position! Shared by Student Circus

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White-sounding names get called back for jobs more than Black ones, a new study finds

Joe Hernandez

A sign seeking job applicants is seen in the window of a restaurant in Miami, Florida, on May 5, 2023. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

A sign seeking job applicants is seen in the window of a restaurant in Miami, Florida, on May 5, 2023.

Twenty years ago, two economists responded to a slew of help-wanted ads in Boston and Chicago newspapers using a set of fictitious names to test for racial bias in the job market.

The watershed study found that applicants with names suggesting they were white got 50% more callbacks from employers than those whose names indicated they were Black.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Chicago recently took that premise and expanded on it, filing 83,000 fake job applications for 11,000 entry-level positions at a variety of Fortune 500 companies.

Their working paper , published this month and titled "A Discrimination Report Card," found that the typical employer called back the presumably white applicants around 9% more than Black ones. That number rose to roughly 24% for the worst offenders.

The research team initially conducted its experiment in 2021, but their new paper names the 97 companies they included in the study and assigns them grades representing their level of bias, thanks to a new methodology the researchers developed.

"Putting the names out there in the public domain is to move away from a lot of the performative allyship that you see with these companies, saying, 'Oh, we value inclusivity and diversity,'" said Pat Kline, a University of California, Berkeley economics professor who worked on the study. "We're trying to create kind of an objective ground truth here."

America Reckons With Racial Injustice

From jobs to homeownership, protests put spotlight on racial economic divide.

The names that researchers tested include some used in the 2004 study as well as others culled from a database of speeding tickets in North Carolina. A name was classified as "racially distinctive" if more than 90% of people with that name shared the same race.

Applicants with names such as Brad and Greg were up against Darnell and Lamar. Amanda and Kristen competed for jobs with Ebony and Latoya.

What the researchers found was that some firms called back Black applicants considerably less, while race played little to no factor in the hiring processes at other firms.

Dorianne St Fleur, a career coach and workplace consultant, said she wasn't surprised by the findings showing fewer callbacks for presumed Black applicants at some companies.

"I know the study focused on entry-level positions. Unfortunately it doesn't stop there. I've seen it throughout the organization all the way up into the C-suite," she said.

St Fleur, who primarily coaches women of color, said many of her clients have the right credentials and experience for certain jobs but aren't being hired.

"They are sending out dozens, hundreds of resumes and receiving nothing back," she said.

What the researchers found

Much of a company's bias in hiring could be explained by its industry, the study found. Auto dealers and retailers of car parts were the least likely to call back Black applicants, with Genuine Auto Parts (which distributes NAPA products) and the used car retailer AutoNation scoring the worst on the study's "discrimination report card."

"We are always evaluating our practices to ensure inclusivity and break down barriers, and we will continue to do so," Heather Ross, vice president of strategic communications at Genuine Parts Company, said in an email.

AutoNation did not reply to a request for comment.

The companies that performed best in the analysis included Charter/Spectrum, Dr. Pepper, Kroger and Avis-Budget.

Workplace Diversity Goes Far Past Hiring. How Leaders Can Support Employees Of Color

Several patterns emerged when the researchers looked at the companies that had the lowest "contact gap" between white and Black applicants

Federal contractors and more profitable companies called back applicants from the two racial groups at more similar rates. Firms with more centralized human resources departments and policies also exhibited less racial bias, which Kline says may indicate that a standardized hiring workflow involving multiple employees could help reduce discrimination.

When it came to the sex of applicants, most companies didn't discriminate when calling back job-seekers.

Still, some firms preferred one sex over another in screening applicants. Manufacturing companies called back people with male names at higher rates, and clothing stores showing a bias toward female applicants.

What can workplaces — and workers — do

Kline said the research team hoped the public would focus as much on companies doing a bad job as those doing a good one, since they have potentially found ways to remove or limit racial bias from the hiring process.

"Even if it's true, from these insights in psychology and behavioral economics, that individuals are inevitably going to carry biases along with them, it's not automatic that those individual biases will translate into organizational biases, on average," he said.

St Fleur said there are several strategies companies can use to cut down on bias in the hiring process, including training staff and involving multiple recruiters in callback decisions.

Companies should also collect data about which candidates make it through the hiring process and consider standardizing or anonymizing that process, she added.

St Fleur also said she often tells her job-seeking clients that it's not their fault that they aren't getting called back for open positions they believe they're qualified for.

"The fact that you're not getting callbacks does not mean you suck, you're not a good worker, you don't deserve this thing," she said. "It's just the nature of the systemic forces at play, and this is what we have to deal with."

Still, she said job candidates facing bias in the hiring process can lean on their network for new opportunities, prioritize inclusive companies when applying for work and even consider switching industries or locations.

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Research: How to Close the Gender Gap in Startup Financing

• Malin Malmström,
• Barbara Burkhard,
• Charlotta Sirén,
• Dean Shepherd,
• Joakim Wincent

Three ways policymakers, financiers, and other stakeholders can mitigate gender bias in entrepreneurial funding.

A global analysis of previous research over the last three decades shows that women entrepreneurs face a higher rate of business loan denials and increased interest rates in loan decisions made by commercial bankers. Interestingly, the data also reveals that the formal and informal standing of women in a particular society can provide clues to some of the true hurdles to positive change. This article reviews these hurdles, and offers three recommendations for change.

Gender disparities persist in entrepreneurship and statistics reveal the severity of the issue. Globally, only one in three businesses is owned by women . In 2019, the share of startups with at least one female founding member was a mere 20% .

• MM Malin Malmström is a professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at Luleå University of Technology, and a director of the research center Sustainable Finance Lab in Sweden.
• BB Barbara Burkhard is a postdoctoral researcher of entrepreneurship at the Institute of Responsible Innovation at the University of St.Gallen.
• CS Charlotta Sirén is an associate professor of management at the Institute of Responsible Innovation at the University of St.Gallen.
• DS Dean Shepherd is a professor of entrepreneurship, management, and organization at The Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame.
• JW Joakim Wincent is a professor of entrepreneurship and management at the Hanken School of Economics and the Global Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of St.Gallen.

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Biden-harris administration announces preliminary terms with tsmc, expanded investment from company to bring world’s most advanced leading-edge technology to the u.s., office of public affairs.

With Up to $6.6 Billion in Proposed CHIPS Direct Funding, TSMC Announces 2 Nanometer Technology at Second Fab and a New Third Fab to Produce 2 Nanometer or More Advanced Chips

Proposed CHIPS Investment in Arizona Would Support AI, High-Performance Computing, 5G/6G Communications, and More Applications

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce and TSMC Arizona Corporation (TSMC Arizona), a subsidiary of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC), have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) to provide up to $6.6 billion in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. This proposed funding would support TSMC’s investment of more than $65 billion in three greenfield leading-edge fabs in Phoenix, Arizona, which will manufacture the world’s most advanced semiconductors.

Through this proposed investment in TSMC Arizona, the Biden-Harris Administration would take a significant step in strengthening U.S. economic and national security by providing a reliable domestic supply of the chips that will underpin the future economy, powering the AI boom and other fast-growing industries like consumer electronics, automotive, Internet of Things, and high-performance computing. After initially announcing two fabs in the U.S., TSMC Arizona is committing to build an additional third fab before the end of the decade. With this proposed funding, TSMC Arizona would be ensuring the formation of a scaled leading-edge cluster in Arizona, creating approximately 6,000 direct manufacturing jobs, more than 20,000 accumulated unique construction jobs, and tens of thousands of indirect jobs in this decade and bringing the most advanced process technology to the United States.

“Semiconductors – those tiny chips smaller than the tip of your finger – power everything from smartphones to cars to satellites and weapons systems. America invented these chips, but over time, we went from producing nearly 40% of the world’s capacity to close to 10%, and none of the most advanced chips, exposing us to significant economic and national security vulnerabilities. I was determined to turn that around, and thanks to my CHIPS and Science Act – a key part of my Investing in America agenda – semiconductor manufacturing and jobs are making a comeback,” said President Joe Biden . “TSMC’s renewed commitment to the United States, and its investment in Arizona represent a broader story for semiconductor manufacturing that’s made in America and with the strong support of America’s leading technology firms to build the products we rely on every day.”

“One of the key goals of President Biden’s CHIPS and Science Act was to bring the most advanced chip manufacturing in the world to the U.S., and with this announcement and TSMC’s increased investment in their Arizona campus, we are working to achieve that goal,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo . “The leading-edge semiconductors that will be made here in Arizona are foundational to the technology that will define global economic and national security in the 21st century, including AI and high-performance computing. Thanks to President Biden’s leadership and TSMC’s continued investments in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, this proposed funding would help make our supply chains more secure and create thousands of good-quality construction and manufacturing jobs for Arizonans.”

“America’s ability to maintain our competitive edge in advanced technologies like artificial intelligence is essential to igniting the next generation of research, innovation, development, and production,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and National Institute of Standards and Technology Director Laurie E. Locascio . “Our proposed support for TSMC Arizona represents an inflection point for America’s innovative capacity that would restore our nation’s leadership in an industry that is foundational to the U.S. and global digital economy.”

“The proposed funding from the CHIPS and Science Act would provide TSMC the opportunity to make this unprecedented investment and to offer our foundry service of the most advanced manufacturing technologies in the United States,” said TSMC Chairman Dr. Mark Liu. “Our U.S. operations allow us to better support our U.S. customers, which include several of the world’s leading technology companies. Our U.S. operations will also expand our capability to trailblaze future advancements in semiconductor technology.”

“We are honored to support our customers who have been pioneers in mobile, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, whether in chip design, hardware systems or software, algorithms, and large language models,” said TSMC CEO Dr. C.C. Wei . “They are the innovators driving demand for the most advanced silicon that TSMC can provide. As their foundry partner, we will help them unleash their innovations by increasing capacity for leading-edge technology through TSMC Arizona. We are thrilled by the progress of our Arizona site to date and are committed to its long-term success.”

TSMC is widely recognized as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, having pioneered the pure-play foundry business model in 1987, and now manufactures over 90% of the world’s leading-edge logic chips. In Arizona, TSMC’s three fabs are expected to bring a suite of the most advanced process node technologies to the United States: the first fab  will produce 4nm FinFET process technologies; today, TSMC Arizona announced that the second fab will produce the world’s most advanced 2nm nanosheet process technology, in addition to previously announced plans to produce 3nm process technologies; and TSMC Arizona’s third fab will produce 2nm or more advanced process technologies depending on customer demand. At full capacity, TSMC Arizona’s three fabs would manufacture tens of millions of leading-edge chips that will power products like 5G/6G smartphones, autonomous vehicles, and AI datacenter servers. TSMC Arizona expects to begin high-volume production in their first fab in the U.S. by the first half of 2025.

Thanks to investments like those at TSMC Arizona, the United States is now on track to produce roughly 20% of the world’s leading-edge chips by 2030. With total capital expenditures of more than $65 billion, TSMC Arizona’s investment is the largest foreign direct investment in a greenfield project in U.S. history. TSMC Arizona’s investment in the United States is catalyzing meaningful investment across the supply chain, including from 14 direct suppliers that plan to construct or expand plants in Arizona or other parts of the U.S., further strengthening U.S. domestic supply chain resilience.

TSMC’s advanced chips are the backbone of core processing units (“CPUs”) for servers in large-scale datacenters and of specialized graphic processing units (“GPUs”) used for machine learning. Through the proposed funding for TSMC Arizona, the United States would onshore the critical hardware manufacturing capabilities that underpin AI’s deep language learning algorithms and inferencing techniques. This would help strengthen America’s competitive edge in science and technology innovation. Furthermore, through its Arizona fabs, TSMC will be able to better support its key customers, including U.S. companies AMD, Apple, Nvidia, and Qualcomm, among others, by addressing their leading-edge capacity demand, mitigating supply chain concerns, and enabling them to compete effectively in the ongoing digital transformation era. With the proposed incentives, TSMC Arizona has also committed to support the development of advanced packaging capabilities – the next frontier of technology innovation for chip manufacturing – through its partners in the U.S., creating the opportunity for TSMC Arizona’s customers to be able to purchase advanced chips that are made entirely on U.S. soil.

The PMT also proposes $50 million in dedicated funding to develop the company’s semiconductor and construction workforce. To build the long-term construction workforce needed to support these projects, TSMC Arizona recently signed an agreement with the Arizona Building and Construction Trades Council. The company also plans to utilize registered apprenticeship programs to meet a 15 percent apprenticeship utilization rate on the Phoenix construction site.

As part of its commitment to developing local talent, TSMC Arizona established one of the first state-supported Registered Apprenticeship programs for semiconductor technicians, with support from the City of Phoenix. TSMC's U.S.-based recruiting team is also actively collaborating with university engineering programs around the country, including Arizona State University, University of Arizona, and Purdue University, and is partnering with Maricopa Community Colleges and career technical education programs on initiatives to develop the skills for a career in the semiconductor industry. Site employees have access to discounts, reimbursements, and priority enrollment through partnerships for local area early education and childcare centers.

In addition to the proposed direct funding of up to $6.6 billion, the CHIPS Program Office would make approximately $5 billion of proposed loans – which is part of the $75 billion in loan authority provided by the CHIPS and Science Act – available to TSMC Arizona under the PMT. The company has indicated that it is planning to claim the Department of the Treasury’s Investment Tax Credit, which is expected to be up to 25% of qualified capital expenditures.

As explained in its first Notice of Funding Opportunity, the Department may offer applicants a PMT on a non-binding basis after satisfactory completion of the merit review of a full application. The PMT outlines key terms for a potential CHIPS incentives award, including the amount and form of the award. The award amounts are subject to due diligence and negotiation of a long-form term sheet and award documents and are conditional on the achievement of certain milestones. After the PMT is signed, the Department begins a comprehensive due diligence process on the proposed projects and continues negotiating or refining certain terms with the applicant. The terms contained in the long-form term sheet and the final award documents may differ from the terms of the PMT being announced today.

About CHIPS for America

The Department has received more than 630 statements of interest, more than 180 pre-applications and full applications for NOFO 1, and more than 160 small supplier concept plans for NOFO 2. The Department is continuing to conduct rigorous evaluation of applications to determine which projects will advance U.S. national and economic security, attract more private capital, and deliver other economic benefits to the country. The announcement with TSMC is the fifth PMT announcement the Department of Commerce has made under the CHIPS and Science Act, with additional PMT announcements expected to follow throughout 2024.

CHIPS for America is part of President Biden’s economic plan to invest in America, stimulate private sector investment, create good-paying jobs, make more in the United States, and revitalize communities left behind. CHIPS for America includes the CHIPS Program Office, responsible for manufacturing incentives, and the CHIPS Research and Development Office, responsible for R&D programs, that both sit within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the Department of Commerce. NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. NIST is uniquely positioned to successfully administer the CHIPS for America program because of the bureau’s strong relationships with U.S. industries, its deep understanding of the semiconductor ecosystem, and its reputation as fair and trusted. Visit www.chips.gov to learn more.

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What Researchers Discovered When They Sent 80,000 Fake Résumés to U.S. Jobs

Some companies discriminated against Black applicants much more than others, and H.R. practices made a big difference.

By Claire Cain Miller and Josh Katz

A group of economists recently performed an experiment on around 100 of the largest companies in the country, applying for jobs using made-up résumés with equivalent qualifications but different personal characteristics. They changed applicants’ names to suggest that they were white or Black, and male or female — Latisha or Amy, Lamar or Adam.

On Monday, they released the names of the companies . On average, they found, employers contacted the presumed white applicants 9.5 percent more often than the presumed Black applicants.

Yet this practice varied significantly by firm and industry. One-fifth of the companies — many of them retailers or car dealers — were responsible for nearly half of the gap in callbacks to white and Black applicants.

Two companies favored white applicants over Black applicants significantly more than others. They were AutoNation, a used car retailer, which contacted presumed white applicants 43 percent more often, and Genuine Parts Company, which sells auto parts including under the NAPA brand, and called presumed white candidates 33 percent more often.

In a statement, Heather Ross, a spokeswoman for Genuine Parts, said, “We are always evaluating our practices to ensure inclusivity and break down barriers, and we will continue to do so.” AutoNation did not respond to a request for comment.

Companies With the Largest and Smallest Racial Contact Gaps

Of the 97 companies in the experiment, two stood out as contacting presumed white job applicants significantly more often than presumed Black ones. At 14 companies, there was little or no difference in how often they called back the presumed white or Black applicants.

Source: Patrick Kline, Evan K. Rose and Christopher R. Walters

Known as an audit study , the experiment was the largest of its kind in the United States: The researchers sent 80,000 résumés to 10,000 jobs from 2019 to 2021. The results demonstrate how entrenched employment discrimination is in parts of the U.S. labor market — and the extent to which Black workers start behind in certain industries.

“I am not in the least bit surprised,” said Daiquiri Steele, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama School of Law who previously worked for the Department of Labor on employment discrimination. “If you’re having trouble breaking in, the biggest issue is the ripple effect it has. It affects your wages and the economy of your community going forward.”

Some companies showed no difference in how they treated applications from people assumed to be white or Black. Their human resources practices — and one policy in particular (more on that later) — offer guidance for how companies can avoid biased decisions in the hiring process.

A lack of racial bias was more common in certain industries: food stores, including Kroger; food products, including Mondelez; freight and transport, including FedEx and Ryder; and wholesale, including Sysco and McLane Company.

“We want to bring people’s attention not only to the fact that racism is real, sexism is real, some are discriminating, but also that it’s possible to do better, and there’s something to be learned from those that have been doing a good job,” said Patrick Kline, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley, who conducted the study with Evan K. Rose at the University of Chicago and Christopher R. Walters at Berkeley.

The researchers first published details of their experiment in 2021, but without naming the companies. The new paper, which is set to run in the American Economic Review, names the companies and explains the methodology developed to group them by their performance, while accounting for statistical noise.

Sample Résumés From the Experiment

Fictitious résumés sent to large U.S. companies revealed a preference, on average, for candidates whose names suggested that they were white.

To assign names, the researchers started with a prior list that had been assembled using Massachusetts birth certificates from 1974 to 1979. They then supplemented this list with names found in a database of speeding tickets issued in North Carolina between 2006 and 2018, classifying a name as “distinctive” if more than 90 percent of people with that name were of a particular race.

The study includes 97 firms. The jobs the researchers applied to were entry level, not requiring a college degree or substantial work experience. In addition to race and gender, the researchers tested other characteristics protected by law , like age and sexual orientation.

They sent up to 1,000 applications to each company, applying for as many as 125 jobs per company in locations nationwide, to try to uncover patterns in companies’ operations versus isolated instances. Then they tracked whether the employer contacted the applicant within 30 days.

A bias against Black names

Companies requiring lots of interaction with customers, like sales and retail, particularly in the auto sector, were most likely to show a preference for applicants presumed to be white. This was true even when applying for positions at those firms that didn’t involve customer interaction, suggesting that discriminatory practices were baked in to corporate culture or H.R. practices, the researchers said.

Still, there were exceptions — some of the companies exhibiting the least bias were retailers, like Lowe’s and Target.

The study may underestimate the rate of discrimination against Black applicants in the labor market as a whole because it tested large companies, which tend to discriminate less, said Lincoln Quillian, a sociologist at Northwestern who analyzes audit studies. It did not include names intended to represent Latino or Asian American applicants, but other research suggests that they are also contacted less than white applicants, though they face less discrimination than Black applicants.

The experiment ended in 2021, and some of the companies involved might have changed their practices since. Still, a review of all available audit studies found that discrimination against Black applicants had not changed in three decades. After the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, such discrimination was found to have disappeared among certain employers, but the researchers behind that study said the effect was most likely short-lived.

Gender, age and L.G.B.T.Q. status

On average, companies did not treat male and female applicants differently. This aligns with other research showing that gender discrimination against women is rare in entry-level jobs, and starts later in careers.

However, when companies did favor men (especially in manufacturing) or women (mostly at apparel stores), the biases were much larger than for race. Builders FirstSource contacted presumed male applicants more than twice as often as female ones. Ascena, which owns brands like Ann Taylor, contacted women 66 percent more than men.

Neither company responded to requests for comment.

The consequences of being female differed by race. The differences were small, but being female was a slight benefit for white applicants, and a slight penalty for Black applicants.

The researchers also tested several other characteristics protected by law, with a smaller number of résumés. They found there was a small penalty for being over 40.

Overall, they found no penalty for using nonbinary pronouns. Being gay, as indicated by including membership in an L.G.B.T.Q. club on the résumé, resulted in a slight penalty for white applicants, but benefited Black applicants — although the effect was small, when this was on their résumés, the racial penalty disappeared.

Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination is illegal even if it’s unintentional . Yet in the real world, it is difficult for job applicants to know why they did not hear back from a company.

“These practices are particularly challenging to address because applicants often do not know whether they are being discriminated against in the hiring process,” Brandalyn Bickner, a spokeswoman for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said in a statement. (It has seen the data and spoken with the researchers, though it could not use an academic study as the basis for an investigation, she said.)

What companies can do to reduce discrimination

Several common measures — like employing a chief diversity officer, offering diversity training or having a diverse board — were not correlated with decreased discrimination in entry-level hiring, the researchers found.

But one thing strongly predicted less discrimination: a centralized H.R. operation.

The researchers recorded the voice mail messages that the fake applicants received. When a company’s calls came from fewer individual phone numbers, suggesting that they were originating from a central office, there tended to be less bias . When they came from individual hiring managers at local stores or warehouses, there was more. These messages often sounded frantic and informal, asking if an applicant could start the next day, for example.

“That’s when implicit biases kick in,” Professor Kline said. A more formalized hiring process helps overcome this, he said: “Just thinking about things, which steps to take, having to run something by someone for approval, can be quite important in mitigating bias.”

At Sysco, a wholesale restaurant food distributor, which showed no racial bias in the study, a centralized recruitment team reviews résumés and decides whom to call. “Consistency in how we review candidates, with a focus on the requirements of the position, is key,” said Ron Phillips, Sysco’s chief human resources officer. “It lessens the opportunity for personal viewpoints to rise in the process.”

Another important factor is diversity among the people hiring, said Paula Hubbard, the chief human resources officer at McLane Company. It procures, stores and delivers products for large chains like Walmart, and showed no racial bias in the study. Around 40 percent of the company’s recruiters are people of color, and 60 percent are women.

Diversifying the pool of people who apply also helps, H.R. officials said. McLane goes to events for women in trucking and puts up billboards in Spanish.

So does hiring based on skills, versus degrees . While McLane used to require a college degree for many roles, it changed that practice after determining that specific skills mattered more for warehousing or driving jobs. “We now do that for all our jobs: Is there truly a degree required?” Ms. Hubbard said. “Why? Does it make sense? Is experience enough?”

Hilton, another company that showed no racial bias in the study, also stopped requiring degrees for many jobs, in 2018.

Another factor associated with less bias in hiring, the new study found, was more regulatory scrutiny — like at federal contractors, or companies with more Labor Department citations.

Finally, more profitable companies were less biased, in line with a long-held economics theory by the Nobel Prize winner Gary Becker that discrimination is bad for business. Economists said that could be because the more profitable companies benefit from a more diverse set of employees. Or it could be an indication that they had more efficient business processes, in H.R. and elsewhere.

Claire Cain Miller writes about gender, families and the future of work for The Upshot. She joined The Times in 2008 and was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for public service for reporting on workplace sexual harassment issues. More about Claire Cain Miller

Josh Katz is a graphics editor for The Upshot, where he covers a range of topics involving politics, policy and culture. He is the author of “Speaking American: How Y’all, Youse, and You Guys Talk,” a visual exploration of American regional dialects. More about Josh Katz

From The Upshot: What the Data Says

Analysis that explains politics, policy and everyday life..

Employment Discrimination: Researchers sent 80,000 fake résumés to some of the largest companies in the United States. They found that some discriminated against Black applicants much more than others .

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Affirmative Action: The Supreme Court effectively ended race-based preferences in admissions. But will selective schools still be able to achieve diverse student bodies? Here is how they might try .

N.Y.C. Neighborhoods: We asked New Yorkers to map their neighborhoods and to tell us what they call them . The result, while imperfect, is an extremely detailed map of the city .

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Emily or Lakisha? Guess which one hiring managers chose.

• Researchers studied racial bias in hiring by sending over 83,000 fake résumés to big US companies.
• Résumés with Black-sounding names were often less likely to get callbacks.
• Now, the researchers are naming names among the more than 100 Fortune 500 companies involved.

A few years ago, researchers determined that having a name like Emily or Greg on your résumé made it easier to get a callback for a job than having a name like Lakisha or Jamal.

Now, researchers are naming names — not of potential employees, but of companies and industries that seem to favor résumés from job candidates who appear white over those whose names suggest they're Black.

The auto services industry was among those most likely to show a preference for résumés containing white-sounding names.

To determine which names might disadvantage job applicants, researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of California, Berkeley, sent more than 83,000 fake résumés to more than 100 big US companies.

In the best cases, employers went for white-seeming résumés more frequently than Black-seeming ones " only slightly or not at all ," the researchers said. But in the most extreme instances, those doing the hiring favored résumés that might be presumed to be from white candidates by 24%, on average.

The findings illustrate how difficult it can be for many job seekers — even in a strong labor market — to find work. Already, some people in fields like tech who have seen cuts in recent years are applying to job after job with little luck. Having to overcome race as an obstacle can make the hunt all the more difficult .

"Putting the names out there in the public domain is to move away from a lot of the performative allyship that you see with these companies, saying, 'Oh, we value inclusivity and diversity,'" Pat Kline, a Berkeley economics professor involved in the study told National Public Radio . "We're trying to create kind of an objective ground truth here."

Indeed, some companies fared worse than others. The authors said the worst 20% of companies accounted for about half of the discrimination Black applicants faced.

Genuine Parts Company, parent of NAPA Auto Parts, and AutoNation, one of the biggest auto retailers in the US, were among those researchers ranked lowest in their assessment.

The researchers did caution that the nature of the experiment — sending fake résumés to companies — results in "only noisy" estimates of a company's potential discrimination.

Another company where researchers identified disparate response rates for candidates was Costco.

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Representatives for Genuine Parts Company, AutoNation, and Costco did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider ahead of publication.

Of the 108 companies researchers sent résumés to, among the best performers were car-rental company Avis Budget Group and the grocery chain Kroger. Representatives from both companies did not respond to a request for comment from BI.

Researchers deemed names as "racially distinctive" if more than nine in 10 people called that were of the same race, according to NPR.

What did that look like in practice? It meant pitting a Brad or a Greg against a Darnell or a Lamar, NPR said.

The findings build on work done two decades ago by University of Chicago researchers, who found that résumés with white-sounding names were 50% more likely to get a call from a hiring manager than those with Black-sounding names, the university said.

The researchers also examined how much names associated with a particular gender affect an applicant's success in getting a hit. Some industries preferred men, while others went for women more often. In most cases, however, gender didn't appear to play a role in how often a candidate got a callback.

Concerns about hiring bias have drawn attention in recent years because of fears that artificial intelligence could exacerbate inequities in who gets a shot at what jobs. That extends to furthering racial bias .

Yet researchers have also said that, done right, AI could help reduce bias in hiring — by helping women, for example, land roles in fields like tech that men have historically dominated.

Andreas Leibbrandt, an economist at Australia's Monash University, previously told BI that if AI could remove identifiers like gender — or names associated with gender — that could help make the process fairer.

"We do observe that when recruiters know the gender of the applicants, then they discriminate against women. When we remove the gender, there is no gender difference," Leibbrandt said.

This kind of bias is one reason Khyati Sundaram, the CEO of a hiring startup called Applied, doesn't think the résumé should be central to getting a job. Instead, screening for skills through tests could help make the process fairer, she previously told BI.

Kline, the Berkeley professor, told NPR he and his fellow researchers hoped people would focus as much on the companies doing better with equitable hiring as the laggards because doing so could help other companies learn how to curb racial bias.

"Even if it's true, from these insights in psychology and behavioral economics, that individuals are inevitably going to carry biases along with them, it's not automatic that those individual biases will translate into organizational biases," Kline said.

Watch: Women must leverage the "algorithm for equality" as AI goes mainstream, says Shelley Zalis, CEO of The Female Quotient

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