Using Glassdoor in Your Job Search

When job hunting, how many times have you asked yourself:  Where do I start?  How do I know if this company is good for me?  What’s truly entailed in this position?  If you are anything like me, the answer is:  A LOT!  Starting your job search is, not only daunting, but complicated!

A good site that I have utilized in my own job searches in the past is Glassdoor.com.  This site gives access to a ton of job openings, and gives you an insider’s view of what it is like to truly work there.  These are unedited opinions and statements about the corporate culture, salary, benefits, and company reviews. 

Below, I will outline some questions to ask yourself in your job search, and great ways to utilize Glassdoor in helping you find your dream job!

"What kind of role am I looking for?”  Answering this is the first step in your job search.  Narrowing down your specialties and where your passion lies is helpful in determining which direction to steer your job search.   Utilize Glassdoor’s access to job postings by going to the “Jobs” tab on their webpage and start searching for jobs that fit your background/specialty.

“What kind of company do I want to work for?”  The possibilities are endless.  Software, finance, health care, education, government, venture capital backed start-up, established Fortune 500?  Each company has their own “personality”, so to speak.  Figure out what has worked for you in the past, what has challenged you, what continues to challenge you, and what motivates you.  Once you have done some deep digging, narrow down your Glassdoor search to companies that interest you.

How do I know this company is worth applying to?”  I recommend signing up for a free (and anonymous) Glassdoor account so that once you have narrowed down your search, you can read reviews of each company.  Glassdoor will provide you with unedited, unbiased reviews about said-company – from corporate culture to salary, and pros/cons of working there.   While the information can be helpful, take this information with a grain of salt (and not a “deal breaker”) in your job search.  Interviewing with a company is your best bet when it comes to figuring out whether or not it is the right place for you.

How should I prepare for the interview?”  One of my favorite features of Glassdoor is the access to previously used interview questions.  Some companies recycle their interview questions, and while what is depicted on Glassdoor is helpeful, it should be used as a preparation tool rather than a strict guide.  Having questions formerly used in real-life interviews helps to get your wheels turning and thinking outside of the box.  It can also give you some insight as to the type of candidate they are looking for.

What questions should I ask in the interview?”  This is always a tough section of the interview process.  What do you want to know about the company that isn’t already publically available on the website / Google?  Reading through Glassdoor reviews can give you insight to areas of the company you might have questions about, like “What is the management hierarchy like?” or “What does career progression look like if I started in this position?”

Closing the deal.  Another cool feature of Glassdoor is the salary component.  Once you are on a company’s Glassdoor page, there is a salary tab which gives you information on the low, average, and high end of the compensation scale for a particular position you are interested in.  I like this feature because I feel that it not only allows you to gauge the type of talent the company is interested in, but it also gives you the opportunity to inform yourself before an offer comes to the table.  An employer who is fair to their talent, retains their talent.

I wish you the best in your job search.  It’s tough, but with tools like Glassdoor, it can be a tad easier!  Chin up, and carry on!