How to Research a Manager or Company Before Your Interview
Walking into an interview knowing who you'll report to changes everything — the questions you ask, the offer you negotiate, and whether you accept at all. Here's a free, repeatable way to do that homework.
1. Find out who you'd actually report to
The job listing rarely names your manager. Ask the recruiter directly: "Who would this role report to?" Get a name. Everything else builds on it.
2. Read manager-level reviews, not just company reviews
Company ratings average out across thousands of people and hide the thing that matters most to you: the person you'll sit under. Search that manager by name, check that the company and location match the role you're considering, and read for patterns rather than reacting to any single review.
3. Map their professional history
A quick look at their public professional profile tells you how long they stay in roles, how their team has grown or churned, and whether their background fits the job they're hiring for. Frequent short stints or a trail of departing reports are worth noting.
4. Prepare targeted questions
Turn what you learn into questions for the interview. If reviews mention unclear expectations, ask how success is measured. If they mention long hours, ask what a normal week looks like. You're not accusing — you're verifying.
5. Weigh the whole picture
No single source is the truth. A great company can have one difficult manager; a struggling company can have an excellent one. Your job is to triangulate — reviews, the interview itself, and your own read of the room — and decide with your eyes open.