[Get Hired in UX Guide] Step 3. Research the Hell Out of These Companies.
[Get Hired in UX Guide] Step 3. Research the Hell Out of These Companies.
Pretend to be a detective and uncover all the secrets that the company doesn't want you to know 🕵️
Research. Research. Research.
1. Start with the Company Website
The first place you should always start is the company's website. Look for anything that stands out, such as awards, recent news, or unique features of the company. Also, take note of the company's mission and values. This information can give you insight into the company culture and whether it aligns with your personal values. Look at their existing products and if they are any good.
2. Check out their Social Media
Next, check out the company's social media pages. This can give you a sense of their tone, what kind of content they share, and how they interact with their followers. You can also see if they have any upcoming events or job postings.
3. Glassdoor is Your Friend
Glassdoor is a goldmine for researching prospective companies. You can read reviews from current and former employees, see what kind of benefits the company offers, and even get a glimpse at their interview questions. Just remember to take some of the reviews with a grain of salt - people are more likely to leave a review when they have strong feelings (positive or negative) about the company, mostly negative 😤
4. Google DuckDuckGo is Your Other Friend
Do a simple Google search for the company, and see what comes up. Look for recent news articles, press releases, or anything else that might give you insight into the company. You can also try searching for any relevant hashtags to see what people are saying about the company on social media.
5. Search Youtube and Podcasts
YouTube and podcasts can be great sources for interviews with company leadership, current employees, and even potential managers or colleagues. You can get a better understanding of the company culture and what kind of people they have working there. Also, such interviews are an amazing source of non-trivial questions for your interviews with them later.
6. Chat with current and ex-employees
If you know someone who works or has worked at the company, reach out to them and ask for their insight. They can give you a realistic view of what it's like to work there, as well as any inside information that the company may not share publicly. If you don't know anyone at the company, try connecting with them through LinkedIn or reaching out to your network to see if they know someone who works there.
7. Don't Stop at the Company
Don't just focus on the company itself. Also, research the industry and market the company operates in. This can give you a better understanding of the company's competition, what challenges they may face, and what kind of opportunities are available in the industry.
More Sources I Use:
Linkedin
Blind
Twitter
Yahoo Finance (for public companies and industry/sector trends)
Google Maps Reviews
App Stores Reviews
Action items
Do the research for 3 companies. Using the list you created last week, choose the first group of companies to test-run your research process. Make it structured and take notes, so it's easier to compare and refresh your memory later.
Write down 5 deep high-quality questions that you would ask the interview during your conversation.
Additional resources
11 Ways To Research Potential Employers Online (Kirill V)
How to Research Potential Employers (Job Hunt)
UX Career Tip #6: Prepare good interview questions (Kirill V)
PS you can find my list of curated resources about UX career, including tips on job search, resume, portfolio, interviewing tips, and a lot more topics in my UX Career Resources Library.