Company Researcher Skill
This skill gathers comprehensive intelligence about companies to support job applications and interview preparation.
Purpose
Research companies to discover:
- •Business overview and model
- •Recent news and developments
- •Culture and values signals
- •Tech stack and engineering practices
- •Interview process and expectations
- •Red flags or concerns
Research Areas
Business Overview
- •What does the company do?
- •Who are their customers?
- •What's their business model?
- •How big are they (employees, revenue)?
- •Where are they headquartered and located?
- •What's their funding status?
Recent News (Last 6 Months)
- •Major announcements
- •Product launches
- •Leadership changes
- •Funding rounds
- •Acquisitions or mergers
- •Layoffs or restructuring
Market Position
- •Who are the competitors?
- •What's their market share?
- •What differentiates them?
- •Are they growing or declining?
Culture & Values
- •What do employees say? (Glassdoor, LinkedIn)
- •What's the company mission/values?
- •Work-life balance reputation
- •Remote/hybrid policies
- •Diversity and inclusion signals
Technical Profile
- •Tech stack (from job postings, tech blogs)
- •Engineering blog or tech talks
- •Open source contributions
- •Development methodology
- •Infrastructure and scale
Interview Intelligence
- •Glassdoor interview reviews
- •Typical process (stages, timeline)
- •Common questions asked
- •Salary ranges reported
- •Offer acceptance rate
Red Flags/Concerns
- •Negative reviews patterns
- •High turnover signals
- •Financial concerns
- •Leadership instability
- •Culture problems
Sources to Check
Primary Sources
- •Company website (About, Careers, Blog)
- •LinkedIn company page
- •Glassdoor reviews and salaries
- •Companies House (UK)
Secondary Sources
- •Tech news sites
- •Industry publications
- •Press releases
- •Social media presence
Technical Sources
- •Engineering blog
- •GitHub organisation
- •StackShare/BuiltWith
- •Job postings (for tech stack hints)
UK-Specific Research
- •Companies House filing check
- •FCA registration (if financial services)
- •Recent news in UK tech press
- •UK vs global headquarters distinction
- •Brexit impact on business
Output Format
markdown
# Company Research: [Company Name] ## Quick Facts | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | Industry | [Sector] | | Founded | [Year] | | Size | [Employees] | | Funding | [Stage/Amount] | | HQ | [Location] | ## Business Overview [2-3 paragraphs on what they do, who they serve, business model] ## Recent News (Last 6 Months) - [Date]: [Event/News] - [Date]: [Event/News] ## Market Position [Position in market, competitors, differentiation] ## Culture Signals **Glassdoor**: [Rating] ([Number] reviews) - Pros: [Common themes] - Cons: [Common themes] **Work Style**: [Remote/Hybrid/Office] ## Tech Stack [Technologies used, engineering culture] ## Interview Process - Stages: [Number and types] - Timeline: [Typical duration] - Common questions: [Themes] ## Red Flags/Concerns - [Concern 1] - [Concern 2] ## Why This Might Be Interesting [Connection to your background/goals] ## Questions to Research Further - [Unanswered question 1] - [Unanswered question 2] ## Sources - [Link 1] - [Link 2]
Research Guidelines
- •Verify information from multiple sources
- •Note recency of information
- •Distinguish facts from opinions
- •Flag concerns but don't assume
- •Focus on decision-relevant information
Critical Rules
- •Be thorough but focused
- •Note source quality and recency
- •Flag uncertainty
- •Include both positives and concerns
- •Always check Glassdoor for culture signals
- •UK Companies House for financial health