‘What Do You Know About Our Competitors?’ – Answering an Interview Question with Layoff Data

‘What Do You Know About Our Competitors?’ – Answering an Interview Question with Layoff Data

TL;DR:

Layoff intelligence lets you turn a common interview question into a showcase of your strategic thinking. By referencing recent competitor layoffs, you can demonstrate real market awareness and position yourself as someone who understands the business, not just the job.

If you’ve interviewed for a competitive role lately, you’ve probably heard some version of this question:

“What do you know about our company and our competitors?”

Most candidates answer with surface-level observations: product names, recent campaigns, maybe a headline they remember. It’s fine—but forgettable.

With labor alerts, you can do something very different: turn that question into a moment that proves you understand market dynamics, not just job duties.

From Generic Answer to Strategic Insight

Imagine you’re interviewing with Company A.

While preparing, you see a labor alert from three weeks ago: their primary competitor, Company B, laid off a large portion of the team working on an aging legacy product.

That’s not just trivia—that’s strategy.

Instead of saying, “I know you build X and they build Y,” you might answer:

“I know your flagship product has been gaining market share, and I’m particularly interested in how you’ve invested in [specific feature or segment]. I also saw that your competitor, Company B, recently downsized the team supporting their older platform. To me, that signals they’re struggling to innovate or shifting resources away from that line, which creates an opening for you to capture more of the market. I’d be excited to help you double down on that advantage.”

This kind of answer does three things at once:

• Shows you’re informed – you track real market events, not just marketing.
• Shows you’re strategic – you connect layoffs to competitive positioning.
• Shows you’re proactive – you did deeper prep than most candidates.

Why Hiring Managers Love This Level of Thinking

In 2025, hiring managers aren’t just looking for people who can “do the tasks.” They want people who think about:

• How the company competes
• Where the market is moving
• How their role supports larger goals

Business acumen is one of the most in-demand soft skills of the year [1]. Interview coaches consistently emphasize that commercial awareness is a key differentiator for top candidates [2].

By weaving layoff data into your response, you signal:

• You understand the business environment your employer operates in.
• You recognize how competitor struggles can create opportunities.
• You’re ready to help your future team win in that environment.

How to Use Labor Alerts in Your Interview Prep

Here’s a simple process you can follow before your next interview:

1. Track recent alerts
   Look up labor alerts for the company you’re interviewing with and its top 2–3 competitors.
2. Spot patterns
   Are competitors cutting in specific teams (e.g., legacy products, regional divisions)? Are there signs of strategic pivots?
3. Translate to opportunity
   Ask, “If I were this company, how would I respond?” Use that thinking to shape an answer about how you can contribute.
4. Stay tactful
   You don’t need to celebrate anyone’s misfortune. Frame competitor layoffs as context, not gossip.

Done well, this approach turns a standard interview question into your personal highlight reel—powered by real-time labor market intelligence.

References
[1] “Hiring for Acumen: The Most In-Demand Soft Skill of 2025.” Harvard Business Review, 11 Apr. 2025.
[2] “Beyond the STAR Method: Advanced Interview Techniques for 2025.” Forbes, 5 Feb. 2025.