Understanding the company and role is vital to a successful application for a remote job. Finding information will help you stand out from other applicants who have not taken the time to learn about the company.

This guide will walk you through why spending time pre-interviewing company research is vital, and we will go through the steps to understand the company you want to work for and learn more about the role.

Before we highlight the steps, you need to know why spending time researching the company is vital for your application.

Building a Mutual Fit

First and foremost, researching a company aids in identifying if there is a mutual fit. As a potential employee, you are not just looking to fill a position but also to join a culture, a team, and a mission.

Delving into the company’s culture, values, and goals will provide a clear picture of what it stands for and whether it aligns with your professional values.

Preparation for the Interview

Your understanding of the company significantly influences your performance during the interview. Thorough research shows that you are genuinely interested in the company and have taken the time to understand its operations, challenges, and standing in the industry.

It enables you to tailor your responses to show how you can add value to their needs. Moreover, it gives insightful questions for your interviewer, reflecting your engagement and serious intent.

Anticipating the Work Environment

Understanding a company’s remote work culture, communication tools, and policies is fundamental for remote jobs.

It provides:

• A preview of the work environment.
• Highlight any ethical issues you might have with the company.
• The flexibility. Do you have to work a 9-5 work routine?
• The support you would receive as a remote employee.

This insight is crucial to setting realistic expectations.

Steps to Researching a Potential Remote Employer

An information-gathering exercise is a task to complete before you apply for a new remote job. It shifts your mindset into thinking about the role and how it fits within the company and its goals.

Start with the Basics

Company Website & Online Presence

The company website is a treasure trove of information. Delve into sections like “About Us,” “Mission & Values,” and “Team” to grasp the company’s core principles and objectives. Read through the career pages, as these often include vital clues about the company’s type.

Scrutinize the website content to gauge its expertise, industry standing, and the challenges they are addressing. Pay attention to recent company news, project launches, and white papers.

Engage with the company’s profiles on platforms like LinkedIn, X, and Facebook. Analyze the tone of their content, the engagement levels, and the demographics of their followers to deduce their brand persona.

Look for Remote Work Policy

Does the website display a remote work policy? If they do, it might give you clues on if the role is likely to become hybrid, where they seek to have you in the office a few days a week. A fully-distributed company with employees all over the world will likely remain remote.

If no remote work policy is mentioned, then this could be a red flag. Research how the company treats remote work. Is it just a marketing tool to get into applications, or do they truly embrace it?

Employee Engagement and Reviews

Go to the LinkedIn company page and click the ‘People’ tab. You will find a list of employees who work for the company.

Browse the profiles of a few employees and see if there’s any content that might help you during the job application or interview process. Look at people who would be in the same team or department as the role you’re applying for.

Another good resource is Glassdoor, where you can read reviews left by-employee’s. You have to be subjective in that the reviews could be from disgruntled ex-employees, but you can quickly find red flags or concerns that result in you not applying for the remote job.

Research the Leadership Team

Researching the profiles of the leadership team can provide insights into the company’s strategic direction. Look for interviews, podcasts, or publications by or about the leadership to understand their vision.

Spending time on Google and searching for the leadership team names will help you gauge the type of leaders they are.

Pre-interview Company Research

Now, with insights about your prospective employer, you can leverage this knowledge to get shortlisted for a remote job interview and ace it. Researching a prospective employer involves aligning your career aspirations with the right organizational culture and objectives.