Question: When a hiring authority asks me to tell them what I know about their company, how should I respond?

Answer: The first rule in answering this question is NEVER go into an interview without researching and finding out what the company provides to its industry. Take sufficient time to identify and understand how customers, partners, employees, suppliers, and distributors contribute to the overall delivery of the products and services of the company.

Research the company via websites, business journals, and periodicals. Inquire within your personal network to see what they might know about the specific company. If you find information on a recent initiative the company is working on, don't be afraid to display your knowledge on the subject during your interview. Try to comment on something that the company does well or innovative. This will show you have been doing your homework. Most hiring managers will not expect you to know all the intricacies of the company, but the more you know about that organization the more distance you can put between yourself and other candidates.