Vetting Companies
So you're applying for a job and want to ensure that the employer is as great as they seem in the interviewing process. These tips will help you take a peak beyond the curtains.
Last updated
So you're applying for a job and want to ensure that the employer is as great as they seem in the interviewing process. These tips will help you take a peak beyond the curtains.
Last updated
Review the company's growth, stability, and any significant changes they've undergone.
Sometimes, it's not clear who is the actual company you're investigating. If you have an offer letter, it will typically be listed as the legal entity in that document. You can also find the company's Terms of Service or Privacy Policy on its website and find its legal name there.
Google it: Start by Googling the company and seeing what comes up. Check the Google Search News tab.
Way Back Machine: Although not always reliable, check out the company's website using the Internet Archive. Have they pivoted branding or their market? If so, research deeper into the history of the company.
LinkedIn Employees: Check out the company's LinkedIn page. Specifically, click on "X-Y employees" and review the employees that are there. Are they the kind of employees and the mix that you were expecting?
Stocking stuffers: If the company is publicly traded, check its stock (just Google "[company name] stock"). Note that the entire stock market is suffering right now, so take your findings with a grain of salt.
Two-face: Google the company's name plus the words "incorporation," "acquisition," "funding," "restructure," and "merger". If you find they used to be a different company or actually have a parent company, make sure to research that. Qualtrics was significantly different when it became Qualtrics + SAP, and again when it became Qualtrics + Silver Lake.
Crunchatize me: Look up the company on Crunchbase. Look at their founding date, last funding type, and their financials. Do they all line up with what you've been told?
Glassdoor: Review all the tabs (especially Reviews and Interviews) on the company's Glassdoor page.
Indeed: Do the same on Indeed.
Perks & Rec: Request access to the Employee handbook. If they aren't willing to provide it, that's pretty normal. Instead ask about their perks and policies: PTO, 401k match, HSA match, family leave, health insurance, bonuses, other benefits, remote work policy, harassment & discrimination policy, etc.
Work hard, play hard: What do their company offsites look like? How often? These can often be found highlighted on the career page or their social media pages, but you can also ask.
VMV: Find the company's vision, mission, and values. They are often on their website, but you can also ask. Have they lived up to their own standards?
Inside scoop: Talk to current or former employees who are not obligated to talk roses about the company. They can provide firsthand insights that you won’t find in official sources and be the best most candid source of cracks in the pavement. I typically like to do this during interviews as almost always am I interviewed by someone who isn't in leadership. If not, ask to have a 15-minute conversation with one of your potential peers, direct reports, or someone in a similar role as you will be. Do everything you can to ask them what their work is really like. Get under the surface a bit. "What are some things that could be improved at [company name]? What are some challenges [company name] faces?" Let them talk. If they are not trained to a given answer, they may begin ranting, which is when they'll start being more truthful.
BBB: Check the company's reputation on the Better Business Bruro Burow Bureo Bureau. If they have anything less than 4 stars, something is probably off.
Reddit: Google "[company name] reddit". What results do you get?
The bird is the word: What people are posting on Twitter X? LinkedIn? What's their reputation with the world of trolls and influencers?
Is this thing on?: What they are posting on Social Media? How are people responding in the comments?
Mortal Combat: Start typing in Google "[company name] vs" and see what comes up. Review their competition. See how they fare. If they diss on their competition in their marketing material, that's usually a bad sign of their culture.
Law & Odor: Check for any lawsuits, legal disputes, regulatory issues, or ethical violations. Google the company name plus “lawsuit,” “legal issues,” “scandal,” or “controversy.” Use PACER to look up any court filings.
Find the leadership team on their website or on the company's LinkedIn page. Determine founders, executive team, or any odd individuals shown as "leadership" but you wouldn't consider a traditional person to include in the lineup (individual contributors, investors, or other oddities). Is there anyone missing from the lineup? For example, is it a technology company without a CTO or CIO?
Stalk the leaders on LinkedIn. What did they do before this?
Incognito LinkedIn
Anytime you look someone up on LinkedIn, they will know about it. How much they "know" depends on their own privacy settings and whether or not they are a paid user. You can turn off these insights by setting your browsing behavior to private.
Stalk the leaders on social media, especially Twitter X. What are they saying? Does their message resonate with the vision, mission, and values of the company?
Use the Wayback Machine to check the company's leadership/team/about us page. Have there been significant changes in their leadership? If so, figure out how.