How can you really know what it’s like to work somewhere before accepting a role?

Candidates tell us that’s one of the biggest obstacles they face when exploring opportunities. And because life is short and we want you to find an employer you’ll enjoy, we pulled together our super sleuthing tips to research a company before saying, ‘Yes!’

1. Research their employee benefits and perks

Eighty percent of candidates in our latest Candidate Motivators Report say non-monetary benefits are important to them. Needless to say, you’ll want to start by establishing how an organisation recognises employee wellness, performance, and individuals who are doing well. 

Look for things like:

• Do they provide added benefits for years of service (rewarding loyalty)?
• Are there salary bands or is salary negotiated?
• What’s the leave policy like (generous/progressive, or compliance only)?
• How do they support and encourage employee wellbeing (flex-work options, access to health resources, personal projects)?
  

2. Learn about the organisation’s leadership

You may have to sleuth by stealth for this one. You could find the leadership team on the website, by LinkedIn search or Google. Check out what they’re saying online, the conversations they start and how they contribute to others. Are they sharing thought-leading articles in trusted publications? Have any previous employees left recommendations on their profile? 

You could also ask about leadership style during interviews.

3. Check if they’ve been featured in recent news or events

Bad publicity aside, you may also want to get a feel for how they contribute to the community. Like: 

• What kinds of events do they host or sponsor?
• Which events do they usually attend, and do they attend as speakers or panellists?
• Do they offer much in-person, or is everything mostly online? 

All social media channels are a great place to start!

4. Hit up the review sites

The one source of information we humans trust above all else is peer reviews and endorsements. Check out the company profile on Glassdoor, Seek, Indeed and Google reviews to get a feel for people’s experiences. Granted, some reviews can be taken with a grain of salt, but it’s worth noting the common themes and trends.

5. Explore their response to Covid

A global pandemic proved the ultimate test for organisations: not only for their financial stability and reliability, but also for the way they treated their people. It’s no real surprise that candidates, and particularly senior leaders, rated financial stability higher in 2022 than any previous year. People want reassurance that their job will be safe.

You may want to consider things like:

• Did they have to lay people off? And if so, how was this communicated and managed?
• What were people saying online (both the stayers and those who left)?
• How have they evolved because of the experience?
  

6. Who are their customers

Because as the saying goes, you are the company you keep. What sort of customers do they work with, and for how long has the relationship held? What sort of values and reputation do they have? 

(Not one to get too hung up on if you work for defence lawyers 😏)

7. Check out current and former employees on LinkedIn

Don’t just focus on leadership in your sleuthing, make sure you check out other middle managers or people in similar roles. Look for things like their average tenure (over 3 years would indicate strong loyalty and engagement), evidence of progression and skills growth, and whether they are valued thought leaders encouraged to contribute to content like forums, company blogs and webinars, and LinkedIn pulses. You could try reaching out to people in similar roles to see how willing they are to share their experiences with you (which, if positive, could be another good sign!).

There’s a lot of noise online and in your InMail box, as much as there are a lot of great companies with little to no brand at all! Use these 7 tips to guide your company research and feel confidence accepting an opportunity you’ll enjoy.