We are always told, "Research an organization before an interview." But what should we look for? What should we know about an organization going into an interview?

Even if you are not interviewing, review this list to see how much you know about your own organization.

Organization
Mission statement
Structure
Public or private?
Stock performance (if publicly-traded)
Action by activist shareholders

Leadership
Background of your interviewer
Top management
Organization founder and the founder's story
Notable board members
Changes in leadership
Alumni from your school with that organization

Products
Products / product lines
Innovations
Target customer
Markets the products are sold in and emerging markets
Market share
Sales channels
Advertising campaigns

Industry
Competition – domestic and abroad
Market share of competitors
Recent mergers and acquisitions
Controversial issues in the industry

Sources
Organization website, annual reports. press releases
Trade publications
Business publications – Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Barron's, Forbes, Fortune, etc.
Local newspaper business section
Internet search engines
Twitter: #organizationname
LinkedIn: search by organization to see if you have related connections

Don't forget to search "organization name" and "sucks" to see if there is any bad blood from former employees or consumers. (Other than that, don't use the word "sucks" - it's crass and as my high school Literature teacher would say, "Cultured people don't use that language.")

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