Q. As an applicant, I get frustrated when interviewers don't bother to tell me anything about the company or the job. Without this information, how can I know whether I want a future with a potential employer? Are job applicants expected to learn about the company on their own before accepting a position?

A. Sounds to me like someone is being a bit lazy. Before you ever set foot in an interviewer's office, you should have thoroughly researched the company. Fortunately, the Internet makes this very easy. In the old days, people had to dig around in libraries, but now you can gather a wealth of information with just a few clicks.

Interviewers actually expect you to have done some homework, so a lack of knowledge may cause them to question both your interest and your common sense. Always remember that employers look for applicants who are motivated to work for their particular organization. If you know nothing about the place, how can you be excited about working there?

Research also has other benefits. You can ask questions that may impress the interviewer, like "How was your company able to achieve such a significant increase in market share?" And the more you learn, the better equipped you will be to decide whether an employer is a good fit for you.

You seem surprised that interviewers withhold information, but here's why: They want unbiased answers. The more they tell you, the more clues you have about how to give the preferred response.

If you need more information to answer a question, however, you should politely request it. You may or may not get an answer, but there's no harm in asking.