What do you know about our company? How to answer and research
Give a short summary in your own words: what the company does and for whom, one or two recent developments, and why that connects to the role you're interviewing for. Fifteen minutes of focused research is enough if you look in the right places and finish with a link to the job.
What the interviewer is really asking
They're not testing your memory of their history. They want to know:
- Did you prepare? Basic research is a sign of how you'll prepare for work.
- Do you understand what they actually do? Not the slogan, the business.
- Can you connect it to the job? Facts are only useful if you link them to why you're here.
A good answer takes 45–60 seconds. It sounds like you've understood the company, not memorised its website.
The 15-minute research routine
Set a timer. This is enough for most interviews; for a final round, do it twice as deep.
- Minutes 0–3: home and about pages. Write one sentence: what they do, for whom. Note size and locations if shown.
- Minutes 3–6: products, services or customers. What do they sell, and who buys it? Look for case studies or a "who we work with" page.
- Minutes 6–9: news from the last six months. Search the company name plus "news". Look for launches, expansions, new contracts, leadership changes, mergers.
- Minutes 9–12: the job post and the team. What does this team do? Look up your interviewer's professional profile if you know their name.
- Minutes 12–15: write it down. Three facts, one link to your experience, one question you'd like to ask them.
For a small business with little online presence, swap step 3 for customer reviews, their social media posts, or a visit to the shop or site.
Turn facts into an answer
Use four short parts:
- What they do, in one sentence, in your words.
- What's new: one recent development.
- Why it matters to you: link it to your experience or interest.
- Optional question: something you'd like to know more about.
Weak vs. strong use of the same fact
| Fact you found | Weak use | Strong use |
|---|---|---|
| Founded in 1952 | "You were founded in 1952." | Leave it out unless the history matters to the role |
| Opened a new warehouse last month | "You opened a new warehouse." | "You opened the new warehouse in the north last month. I've worked through two site openings, so I know how much the first six months test the processes." |
| Mission: "making insurance simple" | Reading the mission statement back | "Your claims app lets customers file in a few minutes. I've worked in claims, and I know how much that changes the calls the team gets." |
| Won a large public sector contract | "You won a big contract." | "Winning the council contract must mean a lot of new reporting work, which is the part of this role I'd be strongest at." |
Example answers
Made-up companies and details, to show the structure. Use real details from the company you're interviewing with.
Regional insurance company (customer service role)
"You're a home and car insurer, mainly for customers in the southwest, and from what I read you've grown by focusing on fast claims rather than the lowest price. Last spring you moved claims onto your app, so customers can file with photos. I've worked in a call centre for three years, so I can imagine that's changed what people call about: fewer 'how do I claim' calls and more complex ones. That's the kind of call I'm good at. I'd be interested to hear how it's changed the team's work."
Software startup (sales development role)
"You make scheduling software for physiotherapy clinics, and you've just raised your first big round of funding to expand into Germany. Your customers are mostly small clinics with one to five therapists, which is the kind of customer I sell to now in my current role, just with a different product. I know they're busy, sceptical and hard to get on the phone, and I've worked out how to reach them."
Restaurant group (assistant manager role)
"You run six restaurants across the city, and you're opening a seventh near the station next year. From your menu and reviews, the thing people mention most is that the food is local and seasonal, and that staff know what they're serving. I've been a shift supervisor at a farm-to-table place for two years, so I'd bring that same habit of briefing the team on the menu before every service."
Local council (administrative role)
"The council covers around a dozen towns and villages, and one of your big priorities this year is moving more services online, starting with parking permits and bin collections. I've worked on a similar switch in a housing association, helping residents who weren't comfortable online. That mix of process and patience is what I'd bring to this role."
Mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Try instead |
|---|---|---|
| Reciting their history and figures | Sounds memorised, adds nothing | One sentence on what they do, then what's new |
| Getting a fact wrong | Worse than not knowing | Use only facts from their own site or reliable recent news |
| Quoting numbers you're unsure of | Invites a correction | Round it, or leave it out |
| Criticising the company | Rarely welcome at this point | Save improvement ideas for when they ask; see what would you improve |
| Stopping at facts | They still don't know why it matters to you | End with a link to your experience |
| "Not much, to be honest." | Signals no preparation | Even 15 minutes gives you a real answer |
How to practise it
Read your three facts once, then put the notes away and say your answer out loud. If you can't do it without notes, it'll sound read in the interview. Do one version in 45 seconds and stop. Speaking Coach's mock interviews let you add the job post, so the interviewer can ask about this company and follow up on what you say. If they later ask how you prepared, your 15 minutes is a ready answer.
Questions people ask
How much should I know about a company before an interview?
Enough to say what they do, for whom, one recent development and why it connects to the role. That usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.
Where can I find information about a small company?
Their website and social posts, customer reviews, local news, and their shop or service itself. You can also ask a little about the business in your recruiter call.
Should I mention the company's financial results?
Only if they're relevant to the role and you're sure of them, for example for finance or strategy jobs. For most roles, a recent launch or expansion is more useful.
What if they ask something I don't know?
Say so honestly, mention what you did learn, and turn it into a question: "I didn't see that. How has it affected the team?"