All of this information is helpful throughout the various stages of a job search. The more information you have, and the more you research a company, the better equipped you’ll be to write the perfect cover letter and ace the job interview.
The Benefits
Glassdoor.com allows you to browse real-time company reviews and ratings, as well as salary details for specific jobs with specific employers. Anyone can see basic information on companies, such as their size, mission, revenue, etc. However, to browse the reviews and salaries in the Glassdoor community (and get involved in discussions) members are required to register. Registration is simple, quick, and free. Once registered, you can sort your search by job type, title, companies, salaries, interviews, keywords, experience, and location—then upload a resume to apply. It’s also possible to post job openings you know of.
Interviewing
The Glassdoor Interview Questions and Reviews section has a goldmine of information for job seekers. You can find out what candidates for the position were asked and get insight into how difficult the interview was. And, of course, knowing the interview questions beforehand enables you to prepare responses ahead of time. It will also help you feel more confident during the interview process. There is a variety of information on company and job specific interviews available on Glassdoor.com, including questions and answers, how the candidate got the interview, interview ratings, and how long it takes to get a job offer. Other offerings include:
Interview questions. The most difficult or unexpected questions asked during an interview and insights on the candidate’s responses. How the candidate got the interview. Shows details on how the candidate secured the interview (e.g. employee referral, applying online, recruiter, etc.). Interview ratings. This section rates whether the interview was easy or difficult, positive, or negative. Interview process. This details the length of the candidate’s interview process from start to finish (e.g., days, weeks, months) and what was included as part of the interview process (e.g., phone interviews, panel interviews, skills tests, background checks, etc.). Interview outcome. You’ll discover if the candidate was offered the job and whether they accepted or declined, and why. Compensation and benefits. This provides details on whether the candidate was able to negotiate the offer, and if so, what advice would they offer to others in the same situation.
Glassdoor.com Tools
Users are able to sort Glassdoor.com company reviews by relevance, the number of reviews, overall rating, CEO approval rating, industry, and job. As a service to registered users, Glassdoor.com will email related or recommended job openings directly to you, and you can manage the number of notifications and alerts you receive. The site also suggests looking at Featured Jobs, Similar Companies, and Related Job Search to further expand your search.
Posting a Company Review or Salary
Glassdoor.com stands out among its competitors because it allows current and former employees to post reviews about the company and their salary. This gives the reviews authenticity and readers are given further insight into what might be a typical day at that office in that particular job. You can post a company review for your current or former employers. There’s also an option to compare two companies using factors like salaries, job openings, benefits, and more from reviews and insights on Glassdoor.
Use Your Time Wisely
As with many job search tools, Glassdoor.com is tremendously helpful but can also eat up a lot of time. It’s easy to get lost browsing through reviews and researching companies. To avoid spending an entire afternoon browsing, set a timer before you sign in and/or come up with a list of concrete questions to help you navigate. And, while company reviews can be hugely helpful, take them with a grain of salt. As with anything somewhat anonymous online, there’s a tendency to see more negative feedback than positive. Reviews are most meaningful if you see patterns. For example, if the same issue comes up on multiple user reviews, it’s more likely to be a real concern—and not a single disgruntled employee.
