119: Why you should research the interviewers before a job interview

Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help.

Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.

Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

Would you ever design a product without doing user research first? Of course not. So why do so many UX professionals walk into job interviews without researching their users—the interviewers?

In this episode, Sarah Doody shares a simple but powerful strategy that can completely change the tone and outcome of your UX job interviews. You’ll learn how to connect on a human level with interviewers by doing just a bit of thoughtful research—and how those small moments of connection can tip the scales in your favor.

This isn’t about manipulation. It’s about building trust, showing empathy, and making your job search more human.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ Why researching your interviewers is a game-changer

✔️ How one candidate at Meta used a single question to create a 5-minute connection

✔️ What to look for in someone’s LinkedIn, blog, or social posts

✔️ Examples of conversation starters that feel natural—not forced

✔️ How to show up as thoughtful, intentional, and memorable in your interviews

Whether you're early in your UX career or a seasoned pro, this episode will help you build stronger relationships—and better results—from every interview.

Resources & Next Steps:

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy

00:56 The Power of Human Connection in Interviews

01:29 Real-Life Example: Making a Personal Connection

02:54 LinkedIn Post Breakdown

04:05 Why UX Research Matters in Interviews

05:27 Tactical Tips for Interview Research

08:18 Creating Conversation Starters

09:37 Conclusion and Homework

11:04 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025

👉 Join Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.