Lifehacker: What to Know About a Company Before the Interview

2026-04-17 11:36

It is important to find out whether an employer is a good fit for you prior to the interview stage. Evgenia Gofman, Senior Consultant at Selecty, explains how to gather useful information about a company.

«I advise looking at these three things before sending your résumé to a potential employer».

First, it is worth studying the company’s social media. This is the quickest way to understand whether its corporate culture feels close to you and to see what the team does outside work.

Evgenia Gofman, Senior Consultant at Selecty:

«Pay attention to posts about internal events, thematic content, and humorous Reels. Sometimes they can tell you more about the work and values of a company than a formal job description or a recruiter’s presentation during an interview».

Reviews and ratings from former and current employees can also provide insight into the advantages and drawbacks of working there, including processes, workload, and management style. They help reveal pitfalls that may not be obvious in the early stages of the hiring process. The key is not to rush to sweeping conclusions — reviews are subjective, and every company has flaws. Still, they can help you prepare useful follow-up questions to discuss with the hiring manager during the interview.

Finally, one of the most obvious tools, but one that many candidates neglect, is the company’s official website.

Evgenia Gofman, Senior Consultant at Selecty:

«I usually recommend reviewing it not only before applying, but also when preparing for an interview. This shows genuine interest in the role and helps you speak the same language as the potential employer».

It is worth paying attention to the company’s mission, strategy, products, clients, and growth trajectory. These details help you understand what stage the business is at and which priorities matter most at the moment. They also allow you to assess how closely your values align with the employer’s, and whether its projects match your professional interests.