How to Research Your Interviewers on LinkedIn (Without Being Creepy)
How to Research Your Interviewers on LinkedIn (Without Being Creepy)
Researching your interviewers on LinkedIn is a critical step in modern interview preparation. It allows you to build genuine rapport and ask smarter questions, but crossing the line from prepared to creepy can damage your candidacy. This guide provides a clear framework for professional, effective research.
Why Research Your Interviewer on LinkedIn?
Conducting pre-interview research shows you are diligent, genuinely interested in the role, and prepared to engage in a meaningful conversation beyond the job description.
It helps you find professional common ground, which is the fastest way to build rapport. A shared university, past employer, or professional group can create an instant connection.
Understanding an interviewer's career trajectory and role at the company allows you to tailor your answers and questions, making them more relevant and impactful.
Mini-definition: Rapport refers to a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well.
What to Look for on an Interviewer's LinkedIn Profile
Focus your research on professional information that will help you understand their context and perspective. Your goal is to gather intelligence, not personal data.
Look at their current role and tenure. How long have they been with the company? What is their official title? This helps you understand their seniority and viewpoint.
Scan their career history. Have they been promoted internally? Did they switch industries? This provides insight into what the company values and potential career paths.
Note any shared connections, groups, or educational institutions. These are excellent, low-stakes points of connection you can subtly reference.
Check their recent activity, such as articles they've published on LinkedIn or posts they've shared. This reveals their professional interests and current focus areas.
The 'Don't Be Creepy' Checklist: What to Avoid
Maintaining professionalism is paramount. Avoid any action that feels like snooping rather than professional due diligence. This simple table breaks down the difference.
| Strategic Research | Creepy Snooping |
|---|---|
| Understanding their professional role | Mentioning their vacation photos |
| Finding a shared university connection | Citing a comment they made 3 years ago |
| Noting a recent article they wrote | Liking multiple old posts from months ago |
| Browsing their profile once | Viewing their profile repeatedly every day |
Never mention personal details you found online (e.g., family, non-professional hobbies). Stick to what is clearly work-related.
Do not try to connect on LinkedIn before the interview. It puts the interviewer in an awkward position to accept or ignore your request.
Avoid interacting with their very old content. Liking a post from two years ago sends a clear signal that you were digging deep, which can be off-putting.
How to Use Your Research During the Interview
The key to using your research is subtlety. You should never say, "I saw on your LinkedIn profile that..." Instead, weave your findings into the conversation naturally.
Use their background to frame a question. For example: "I noticed you've been with the company through its recent growth phase. What do you see as the biggest opportunity for this team in the next year?"
Subtly reference common ground. If you went to the same university, you might say, "My time at [University] really prepared me for collaborative projects like the ones you've described."
Align your story with their expertise. If your interviewer has a background in data analytics, you can emphasize the data-driven aspects of your own accomplishments.
FAQ: LinkedIn Research for Interviews
Should I connect with my interviewer on LinkedIn before the interview?
No. Wait until after the entire interview process is complete. A connection request is best sent as a follow-up, whether you get the job or not, to maintain a professional connection.
Does LinkedIn notify users who viewed their profile?
Yes, in most cases. Unless you set your profile to private browsing mode, the interviewer can see you viewed their profile. This is perfectly normal and shows you are doing your homework.
What if their profile is very sparse?
Don't worry. If an interviewer's profile offers little information, shift your research focus. Use resources like the company's official blog or a platform like Glassdoor to research the company culture, recent news, and the department you're interviewing for.
How Cruit Prepares You for Any Interviewer
Research is only part of the equation; you still have to deliver your answers with confidence. Cruit's suite of tools is designed to turn your research into a winning performance.
Cruit's Interview Prep Module analyzes the job description and generates a personalized list of likely behavioral questions. Its AI coach then helps you brainstorm examples from your career and structure them using the proven STAR method, ensuring your answers are impactful. You can practice your delivery and even prepare for follow-up questions, so you're ready for the conversational reality of the interview.
After the interview, the Networking Module helps you manage your professional connections and draft compelling, personalized follow-up messages. This removes the anxiety from post-interview communication and helps you build lasting professional relationships.
This guide was created by Cruit, a career growth platform that helps professionals build and execute their career strategy.