• What exactly does the company do? How long has it been established? And what is the company’s mission statement?
• Is the company expanding and growing or downsizing?
• Who are their major competitors?
• What skills they are looking for, such as education, previous experience etc…
• How do the skills you have relate to what they are looking for?

Having a general idea about the organisation will give you confidence during the first interview, and as stated above, will put you in a good position to ask relevant questions, referring to your research. 

Where to find information

 The following are useful places to look for information:

• Internet – Study the company's website for corporate information and their areas of specialisation.  Also, sites such Wikipedia can be useful to find out more general information - as can the company's Linked In or Facebook pages, if they use them
• Consultants – Our consultants can give you detailed information on the job itself, the location, skills and experience needed and general company information
• Directories and Journals – Trade associations and institutes produce directories and journals that can give you information on trends and issues relating to that industry, try your local library or directory enquiries
• Pop into reception on your lunch hour – You can get company information there and it will ensure that you know your way there so you won’t be late for your interview
• Use your own contacts – Ask colleagues or other professionals in the field for information
• Competitor information – Whether it is from the Internet, newspapers or journals, this may give you valuable information on the company and the differences between it and its competition
• Business News – Keeping up to date with current affairs and industry news is very useful, reading an industry related magazine every week can be very helpful
• Local Libraries and  – You can find out about the company profile from your local library

Whether during your job search, or preparing for an interview, doing research on a potential employer is essential in order to be successful.