Glassdoor: The ultimate bad boyfriend detector?

//Photo Courtesy: Chicago Tech//

Short answer: No, because the ULTIMATE bad boyfriend detector is obviously yours truly.

But hell, I’ll throw this website a bone and say it’s a close second.

The truth is, Glassdoor has become a slight obsession of mine ever since graduating college. For those of you who follow my blog you know I’m a die-hard LinkedIn junkie, but Glassdoor has slowly but surely found a special place in my corporate America hardened heart. As the essential Yelp for job seekers, its become my go-to resource when conducting company research (which if you’re not doing already, we have other problems).

And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love read employee reviews from the companies who’ve wronged me in the past. Hey we all have our guilty pleasures, right? Imagine if there was a website where you could read reviews about the jackasses who’ve dumped us and submit you’re own comments?

Did I just come up with a million dollar idea?

I digress.

I’m often shocked when I learn that many people haven’t heard of this website, or worse, dismiss it as a venting platform for disgruntled employees.

From my perspective, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t use Glassdoor as a tool in your job search. Which is why I wanted to share my Do’s and Don’ts for using this website and more importantly, spotting those bad boyfriends.

DO pay attention to patterns

As I mentioned, people often criticize Glassdoor for being a platform for pissed off employees to vent their anger after not getting promoted. Don’t get me wrong, those posts exist, but they’re the minority. Instead of reading too much into one long scathing review, my advice is to focus on patterns.  For instance, do employees consistently talk about how the office is very “clique-y”, or that there’s a lack of “upward mobility”. Pay attention to words and phrases used over and over. Everyone has their individual issues with a company, but try to focus on what issues come up in multiple reviews.

DON’T rely on the interview samples

Occasionally I come across useful sample “interview questions” submitted by a user, but for the most part, they’re very predictable. I don’t need someone on Glassdoor to tell me I’m going to get asked about my previous work experience in an interview. That much is a given. When preparing for an interview focus your energy instead on researching the company and/or reaching out to someone who works there or has interviewed there in the past. You’ll have better luck getting insider information on interviewing from a person you know.

DO pay attention to CEO ratings

It’s important to know how employees view their company’s leadership. A lack of faith or trust in the CEO speaks volumes. People want to believe in the work they do and that starts with believing in the vision of the person they work for. My advice: If it’s anything below two stars, run for the hills. This is most important for small to medium-size companies where you would most likely interact with the CEO at some point.

DON’T fall victim to the employer-planted content

In the last couple years, companies receiving bad reviews or poor ratings have tried to rectify their image by planting positive content on their company page. For instance, they would ask a member of HR to post a good review or add a video about the company to catch people’s attention. Clever? Sure. Unethical? Um, yeah. Initially these posts were pretty easy to spot, but lately companies have become better at planting content that feels authentic and organic. SO how do you sniff out the bullshit? Use your best judgment when reading reviews. If a person spends more characters  refuting specific statements made by previous reviewers as opposed to sharing their own experience, it’s possible it’s fake. Also look for very vague statements that aren’t backed up by examples or specifics.

DO use their salary reviews as a base number

Your experience level and industry norms are the two most important factors when determining your salary ask, however it’s always good to know the salary range for a position at a particular company before you state your expectations to a hiring manager. For instance, an Account Manger job a boutique firm may have a lower range than at a Fortune 100 company. Glassdoor will give you a great base to work with because their salary ranges are from actual employees. Consider these numbers as you conduct research on a company or position. It will save you a lot of grief if you get an idea of salary expectations up front.

DON’T let it be the end all be all

Glassdoor should never be the final say in your decision to accept an interview or an offer from a company. It should simply be a component of your research. There are so many variables to consider when working within a community forum platform like Glassdoor that you’re bound t0 find inaccurate information.

DO submit your own review

The only reason Glassdoor works is because people continue to share experiences and insight. You owe it to your fellow career babes to share as well. Not to mention if you submit a review you gain free access to the website.

Do you have any tips for navigating Glassdoor? Share them in the comments below!