How do you really find out about a company's working environment prior to accepting an offer, besides using Glassdoor?

6 Comments

1. AnonymousJanuary 31,2025 at 8:58PM UTC

   If in a team group interview, pose the question when given the opportunity, what do you like best about your job, and what do you find the most challenging. Then ask another question, in one word, describe the culture here. What I want you to do is listen to the pauses, intonations of answers, listen and watch. Body language is 80% of what we say. If you're lucky, you will be in an in-person interview where you can watch the shift in the chairs, the facial expressions, the looks of others towards others, those who look down, etc.. If virtual, watch the facial expression of your interviewer (s). It's all in the body language and facial expressions. I ask and if I don't get a good feel, I'm not interested. I've done this and honestly, they can lie, but usually body language doesn't. Where are their hands, how relaxed are they, are they tensing up, do they look at the leader for guidance?

2. AnonymousFebruary 3,2025 at 12:36PM UTC

   That is a wonderful suggestion. You are absolutely right on point. Body language does not lie. Great idea and suggestion. Thank you for sharing.

3. AnonymousFebruary 3,2025 at 3:14PM UTC

   From an interview last week, the interviewee mentioned how he thought our group really got along by our excitement of our answers. What they don't know is a few of us are not fans of each other but professionally we are able to work together. You really will not know until you step foot in the office and see how others interact. I've been here a long time, have seen many come and go, and a couple that are still here, are not my favs but we can work together. They are just not my people on the outside.

4. AnonymousJanuary 31,2025 at 9:10PM UTC

   Research them on LinkedIn and reach out to former employees. Someone will definitely give you the details when it's extremely toxic.

5. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 1,2025 at 6:11AM UTC

   I would take Glassdoor reviews - both good and bad - with a large grain of salt.

   Many of the bad reviews are written by disgruntled ex-employees. Think of some of the awful people you've worked with in the past - how much credence would you give their opinion?

   I've also heard of managers making people write positive reviews or writing them themselves.

6. AnonymousFebruary 2,2025 at 2:38PM UTC

   In spite of efforts to find out, sometimes the full picture does not come to light until after you join the company. I was blindsided by a unique situation on a separate team that I could not have known about and that no one would have shared in an interview or otherwise. Disgruntled employees can appear out of nowhere and attempt to cause problems for any new employee who looks happy with their job. I chose to ignore it and discussed it with HR because it seemed like veiled harassment. Be cautious and don't let on too much if you like your job!