Interview Preparation 2025: Questions You Must Research

Interview Preparation 2025: Questions You Must Research

Don’t Walk Into an Interview Without Researching the Answers to These Questions

During my time working in corporate strategy at United Airlines, I often sat in on interviews with prospective hires. One question almost always separated the well-prepared from those who had no chance of moving forward:

“What do you know about United?”

The best candidates could discuss routes, market challenges, and industry dynamics. The weakest? Their answer was simply: “It’s an airline.”

Even if the rest of the conversation went smoothly, that single response revealed a lack of preparation — and almost always cost them the role.

In 2025, when interviews are often hybrid (some in person, some on Zoom), thorough research remains the one step that can’t be skipped. If you can’t demonstrate insight into the company, role, and interviewers, you risk appearing disengaged or out of your depth.

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Before your next interview, prepare answers to the following three categories of questions:

1) The Company

Employers expect you to understand not just what they do, but how they’re positioned in the market and where they’re heading.

Ask yourself:

  • What does the company actually do, and what differentiates it from competitors?
  • How has the company evolved over time? What’s its growth story?
  • Which divisions generate the most revenue? What are the strategic priorities?
  • What new initiatives, projects, or acquisitions are they working on?
  • What challenges or threats do they face — and how would you add value in addressing them?
  • Have you listened to the latest investor or earnings call (if applicable)?
  • What’s happening with the company’s share price or market performance?
  • What coverage has the company had recently in the business press?

⚡ Pro Tip: Senior executives are expected to speak about the business as if they already work there. Demonstrating insight at this level shows boardroom readiness.

2) The Role Itself

Recruiters want to know not only that you can do the job, but that you understand its strategic importance.

Prepare answers to:

  • What will you actually be doing in this role?
  • How does it contribute to the wider organisation’s success?
  • Why are you interested in this specific role — beyond salary and title?
  • Which skills, achievements, or sector expertise make you a credible fit?
  • How are market or industry trends reshaping this role for the future?
  • If you’re in a technical role, are you ready for case studies or scenario-based problem solving?

⚡ Pro Tip: Avoid generic answers (“I’m a team player”). Use specific, quantified achievements that show how you’ve already delivered impact in similar contexts.

3) The People You’ll Be Meeting

The strongest candidates walk into interviews prepared not just to answer questions — but to connect with the individuals in the room.

Do your homework:

  • Who are the leaders of the department? What does the org chart look like?
  • What are the backgrounds of the people interviewing you?
  • Have they written articles, given interviews, or been quoted in the press?
  • What professional or personal interests do you share?
  • Are there cultural nuances to be aware of (especially for international roles)?

⚡ Pro Tip: People hire people they like. Building rapport by referencing a shared connection or demonstrating that you’ve read their work can help establish trust.

In Summary

Interview preparation goes beyond polishing your CV. The candidates who land offers are those who:

  • Research the business in depth
  • Understand the role’s contribution to strategy
  • Prepare to build rapport with interviewers

This level of preparation demonstrates not only competence but also commitment and credibility.

Want to go further? Combine your research with the STAR method to structure behavioural answers, ensuring your responses are clear, compelling, and evidence-driven.

The question is: next time a recruiter asks “What do you know about us?” — will you be ready?

To find out more, visit our website www.cvpilots.co.uk If you have any further questions, you can either book a consultation call with one of our team, or get in touch via email on team@cvpilots.co.uk