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!
