Do I need to complete every item before every interview?

For a first screen, the first five or six usually matter most. Save the deeper research — interviewer backgrounds, tailored questions — for a round where you have already cleared the initial bar.

What is the single highest-value item on this list?

Using the product yourself, if it is consumer-facing. It is the fastest way to have something specific and honest to say, and most candidates skip it.

Is checking Glassdoor or Blind actually reliable?

Individual reviews skew toward extremes, so look for a pattern across several rather than trusting one review either way.

Company research checklist

Most candidates research a company’s "About" page and stop there, which is exactly what every other candidate also did. The research that actually shows in an interview is more specific than that.

Tick what you have already done and this shows what is left, so you know where the gap is before the interview, not during it.

What you have already checked

Used or tried the product yourselfFor a consumer product, actually sign up and use it. Not everyone does this, and it shows.Checked recent news — funding, layoffs, leadership changesSearch the company name plus the last few months, not just the homepage press page.Looked at recent financials or funding stagePublic company: last quarter’s earnings call. Startup: most recent funding round and who led it.Know who their main competitors areAnd roughly how the company positions itself against them.Looked up your interviewers on LinkedInTheir background can tell you what they are likely to focus on.Checked employee reviews (Glassdoor, Blind, etc.)Look for patterns across multiple reviews, not one outlier.Understand why this role exists right nowNew team, backfill, or growth — this shapes what "success" looks like for the interviewer too.Have a view on the team’s likely priorities this quarterBased on recent product launches, job postings, or public statements.Prepared three tailored questions to askGeneric questions read as generic. Tailor at least one to something you found in your research.

Research readiness

9 items left

Still missing: Use or try the product yourself
Still missing: Check recent news
Still missing: Look at recent financials or funding stage
Still missing: Know their main competitors
Still missing: Look up your interviewers
Still missing: Check employee reviews
Still missing: Understand why this role exists now
Still missing: Form a view on the team’s priorities
Still missing: Prepare three tailored questions

Everything above is worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or saved anywhere.

How this is worked out

Nine checks cover the product itself, the business context, the people, and your own preparation for the conversation.
Readiness is simply the share of the nine items ticked — there is no weighting, since which items matter most depends on the role.
Whatever is unticked is listed explicitly so you know exactly what to do next, not just a vague percentage.

What this does not cover

This does not fetch or verify any information about a specific company for you — it only tracks what you say you have already done.
A checklist cannot judge the quality of your research, only whether you did it.
Nothing you tick is saved anywhere; it resets when you leave the page.

Questions people ask

Do I need to complete every item before every interview?: For a first screen, the first five or six usually matter most. Save the deeper research — interviewer backgrounds, tailored questions — for a round where you have already cleared the initial bar.
What is the single highest-value item on this list?: Using the product yourself, if it is consumer-facing. It is the fastest way to have something specific and honest to say, and most candidates skip it.
Is checking Glassdoor or Blind actually reliable?: Individual reviews skew toward extremes, so look for a pattern across several rather than trusting one review either way.

Where these figures come from

Rates and rules on this page were last checked against the source on 31 August 2026. Tax law changes; check the source before you rely on a number for a decision.

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