Your Guide to Thoroughly Researching a Company in 2024

For many, landing the perfect job in 2024 means finding a workplace that aligns with both your aspirations and your values.

Women, in particular, not only seek fulfilling career growth but also environments that foster belonging through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, social responsibility, and more. Tens of thousands of women tell InHerSight they want to find workplaces where they not only feel valued and respected, but also happy. And of the 73 percent of women who want to change careers, most want to find a company with a mission they believe in.

Plus, in an era marked by significant global events, such as the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and the COVID-19 pandemic, companies' responses to these challenges have become critical factors in evaluating whether employers are performative in their support of their communities and employees or truly follow through on investments and promises.

Before you apply or cold email the recruiter, go beyond the glossy surface of company websites to discover the true nature of the culture. From reading employee reviews to examining a company's response to pivotal societal issues, learn how to make an informed decision and find a workplace that resonates with your goals and values.

Read more: Our Comprehensive Guide to Finding a Career You Love

7 ways to thoroughly research a company before applying to a job

Researching a company to feel well-prepared for an interview will look different from researching a company to gauge whether you’ll be happy there. To prepare for common interview questions like, “Why do you want to work for this company?” and “Why do you want this job?” you’ll want to know information such as the following:

• What is the company’s core mission or vision?

• What products and services do they offer?

• Who is the CEO? 

• Does the company have any recent achievements?

• Who are their major competitors?

• Roughly how many people work at the company?

• Does the company have any international operations?

This type of information should be easy to find. More difficult to find, however, might be this second layer of research, where you dive deeper to determine if the company is a good fit for you. 

Before you begin the second half of the research process for yourself, make a list of every aspect of a job that would affect your happiness and wellbeing—things like your coworkers, boss, job location, work hours, salary, growth or management opportunities, company reputation, work culture, etc. Be specific about your must-haves and non-negotiables. When you’re researching, have a guiding purpose. For example: “I want to work for a remote company that gives back to the community and values the inclusion of neurodiverse employees.” 

Once you have a vision for your job search, here’s how to thoroughly research prospective companies.

1. Peruse the company website

The obvious place to start researching a prospective company is the official website. If you find an interesting job opening at a company you don’t know much about, head to their website and check out the "about us" section. 

Some green flags to look out for might include:

• A mission statement or company values: Does the company clearly articulate its mission and values? A strong commitment to values such as diversity, inclusion, innovation, and social responsibility—with data or examples to back each up—is a definite green flag.

• Awards or recognitions: Look for awards, certifications, or recognitions the company has received for its workplace culture, diversity, sustainability, or other positive attributes. When exploring top companies awards, double check how an employer lands on that list, whether through merit or paid sponsorship. 

• An employee-facing blog: What themes or issues are they covering? If they’re writing about women’s experiences in the workplace, community engagement, or other diverse, data-driven topics, that could be a good sign that they really care.

• Inclusive job benefits: Look for information on benefits including health insurance, fertility assistance, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, mental health support, parental leave, wellness programs, and other work-life balance initiatives. 

• Employee resource groups (ERGs): Does the company mention the existence or offering of ERGs or affinity networks? These types of groups often support and lift up underrepresented or marginalized employees and promote an inclusive workplace. If they have ERGs, jot down a few questions to ask regarding opportunities within the group, whether they have sponsorship from leaders, and what kinds of impact they have within the organization.

2. Sift through any news and media coverage

Search for news articles and media coverage related to the company. Look for mentions of their response to current events, community engagement, and social responsibility efforts. Review any press releases to see how the company responded to major headlines, such as the pandemic or acts of racism or violence in the community. For instance, if the company made a public commitment to DEI in the wake of BLM and the murders of Black Americans, how have their workplace policies changed since? Have any of their leaders or employees participated in public speaking events, interviews, or conferences you can find?

Note any significant events to evaluate and keep in mind, such as corporate mergers, buyouts, or a new CEO taking over. Definitely look out for red flags that haven’t been addressed, like frequent leadership change, high turnover, harassment lawsuits, legal investigations, news stories that portray the company in a negative light, or financial problems, such as widespread layoffs, bankruptcy filings, or declining revenue. 

3. Take a look at their social media presence

“Paying attention to an organization’s social media can be an interesting gauge of a company’s values. Especially around what they post to the various channels, their tone and language, and how they engage with other content and followers,” say career coach Dana Hundley and recruiter Jenna Richardson. “You can also look at who the organization aligns themself with—are their partners, vendors, etc. aligned with their (and your) values?”

LinkedIn and Twitter are generally good places to gain insights into their workforce diversity, recent hires, and departures, and you can check if they’ve shared any articles or updates related to their values or corporate initiatives. Search for the profiles of the company executives as well. What are their posts like? What kind of language or tone do they use? How do they respond to controversial topics or comments? Are they proud to represent the company? What kinds of accounts do they follow?

Looking at social platforms can also help you figure out if you’ll fit in culturally. Senior hair stylist Serina Blair says, “Do I see anyone who looks like me? Do I see any kind of hair that looks like mine? What types of inclusive services and products do they provide?”

4. Find their measurable DEI initiatives

Our data shows that 53 percent of women are more likely to leave a company that doesn’t have visible or measurable DEI initiatives, so taking the time to understand and consider the implications of this must-have is important.

But how can you tell if a company really means what they say? Celeste Hippolyte, an access and innovation manager at Epic Games, says a company that genuinely cares about diversity should have a track record for inclusive company practices 

“Women should be looking at company leadership profiles and also researching who is on that company's board,” she says. “Is there gender diversity? Race diversity? Intersectional identities? Are the company's policies fair as it pertains to growing and developing women? Are women of color gaining career growth opportunities at this company? Who are the large investors of that company and what are their ideals?” She adds diversity should be evident in the recruitment practices, retention plans, leadership profiles, creative work products, and policies as well.

How do they support women specifically? Look for specific initiatives that focus on gender diversity and women's empowerment, pay equity analyses and efforts to address any pay disparities, mentorship and sponsorship programs, and family-friendly policies, such as flexible work hours and childcare support.

Read more: How Do You Know If a Company Truly Embraces Diversity?

5. Look into the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives

Investigate the company's involvement in CSR initiatives, such as philanthropy, volunteering, or environmental sustainability. Check for partnerships with nonprofit organizations and their impact to see how the company supports the community and world. 

Here are three common types of CSR and examples of each you can look for:

• Environmental: Examples might include shrinking the environmental footprint by installing renewable energy sources, reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing unnecessary plastic packaging, or prioritizing recycling programs. 

• Human rights: Examples might include eliminating unethical labor practices like child labor and slavery, ensuring healthy and safe working conditions, committing to DEI in the workplace, and ensuring fair pay.

• Philanthropic: Examples might include donating to and volunteering at nonprofit groups, offering job-training programs for marginalized communities, funding educational programs, or supporting community health initiatives. 

Read more: 11 Companies with Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives That Matter

6. Tap anonymous company reviews and feedback

InHerSight data found 49 percent of women say they’re able to be completely honest in an employer review if the employer is the one collecting it, while 81 percent say they can be completely honest if a third-party is collecting that review. 

This is why utilizing anonymous, third-party data collectors, like InHerSight, is ideal for finding unbiased feedback from real employees. Our list of the Best Companies to Work For is updated monthly, and it’s based on ratings by employees who currently work or have previously worked at these companies.

Look up companies and see what people have to say. Watch out for negative reviews regarding the work culture, company diversity and inclusion, and overall job satisfaction. Don’t let one bad review make you immediately pass on the company, but be cautious if there's a pattern in the reviews of toxic management, discrimination, unhealthy work-life balance expectations, or no opportunities for growth.

Another place to find employee reviews? TikTok. There you’ll likely be able to find honest stories from employees if you search around the company name.

7. Network with current or former employees

Networking can provide valuable insights beyond what's publicly available. Connect with current or former employees, request informational interviews, and ask direct questions about their experience at the organization, how they feel supported and belonging, and what keeps them there. 

Here’s an example of how you can reach out to an employee:

Networking like this can be especially important for BIPOC employees. You can reach out to other women of color who have worked for the company you're researching and ask them about their experience.

An example email like that might look like this: