5. AI and Your Career: Research Companies & Roles Using AI

woman researching company with ai

Introduction

Landing your ideal role isn’t just about sending out applications — it’s about showing potential employers that you understand them. Employers want candidates who’ve done their homework: who know their values, priorities, and where they sit in the market.

AI tools can make this faster and easier, helping you:

  • Research companies in minutes instead of hours.

  • Tailor your CV and cover letter to match company culture.

  • Prepare for interviews with insight and confidence.

  • Spot hidden opportunities and industry trends.

But while AI can give you the data, coaching helps you interpret what it really means for you.

1. Why Company & Role Research Matters

Employers are looking for candidates who:

  • Understand their organisation’s values and strategy.

  • Can link their own experience to the company’s priorities.

  • Show genuine interest and preparation at interview.

Doing this well helps you:

  • Target companies where you’re most likely to thrive.

  • Write tailored applications that stand out.

  • Avoid wasting time on roles that don’t fit your goals.

2. Best AI Tools for Company & Employer Research

  • Perplexity.ai

    • Summarises company insights, culture, and recent news (with sources)

    • Best for: Quick overviews

    • Cost: Free / Pro £16

    • Try this prompt:
      “Summarise [Company X]’s culture, strategy, and key news from the last 6 months. Include 3 insights I could use in an interview.”

  • LinkedIn Insights

    • Shows company growth, hiring trends, and in-demand skills

    • Best for: Understanding opportunities and market demand

    • Cost: Free / Premium £39.99

    • Try this prompt:
      “Which skills are most in demand for [job title] roles at [Company X] on LinkedIn right now?”

  • Glassdoor UK

    • AI-generated employee reviews and salary benchmarks

    • Best for: Evaluating company culture & pay transparency

    • Cost: Free

    • Try this prompt:
      “What do Glassdoor reviews suggest about leadership and culture at [Company X]?”

  • Indeed Company Pages

    • Summarises employer culture, salaries, and benefits

    • Best for: General employer research

    • Cost: Free

    • Try this prompt:
      “Summarise average salaries, benefits, and employee feedback for [Company X] from Indeed.”

  • ChatGPT or Claude

    • Extracts role-specific responsibilities from job descriptions

    • Best for: Role clarity before applying

    • Cost: Free / from £16+

    • Try this prompt:
      “Extract the top 10 responsibilities and required skills from this job description. Suggest how I could tailor my CV to match.”

  • Google News + AI Summaries

    • Collects latest headlines on employers and industry sectors

    • Best for: Researching market trends and company updates

    • Cost: Free

    • Try this prompt:
      “Summarise the 5 most recent news stories about [Company X]. Suggest how I can use this information in an interview.”

3. How to Use AI for Company Research

Step 1 — Understand company values & culture
📌 Prompt (Perplexity):
“Summarise [Company X]’s mission, values, and workplace culture based on its website, reviews, and recent news.”

Step 2 — Analyse company strategy & position
📌 Prompt:
“Summarise [Company X]’s strategy, recent priorities, and industry challenges in the last 6 months.”

Step 3 — Evaluate company fit
Ask yourself:

  • Do their values align with mine?

  • Would I thrive in this environment?

  • Are there growth opportunities here?

4. Researching Roles with AI

AI can also help you understand roles beyond the job advert:

  • Extract key responsibilities → “From this job description, list the top 8 responsibilities.”

  • Spot skills gaps → “Compare my CV with this job description. What skills do I need to strengthen?”

  • Prepare for interviews → “Generate 10 competency-based questions from this job spec.”

Coaching Advantage: Where I Can Help

AI can give you facts — but it can’t tell you whether a company or role is the right fit for you. That’s where coaching comes in.

Through my Career Change Coaching and Career Development Coaching programmes, I help clients:

  • Make sense of company insights by matching them to your values, personality, and goals.

  • Filter opportunities to avoid wasting time on roles that won’t suit you.

  • Prepare for interviews by practising how to connect your story to the company’s needs.

  • Build confidence to approach employers with clarity and authenticity.

AI gives you the “what.” Coaching helps you with the “so what” — why it matters for your career choices.

Conclusion

AI tools enable faster and more thorough research on companies and roles, providing insights that would once have taken hours to gather. But research is only part of the puzzle. The real magic comes from knowing how to interpret that information and use it to decide where you’ll thrive — and that’s where coaching adds depth and confidence.

Want to focus your job search on companies where you’ll truly thrive?
👉 Explore my Career Change Coaching and Career Development Coaching programmes — combining AI tools with personalised coaching to help you target the right employers and roles with confidence. Find out more about Interview Coaching.

About Diana


I’m Diana Dawson, a Career Coach and Counsellor and Founder of Working Career. I help professionals apply with confidence by understanding not just what a job requires, but what an organisation values. My Interview Coaching helps clients combine insights from AI research with tailored strategies to stand out in applications and interviews.

Contact me to find out how I can help you or people in your organisation
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