How do I use the information from online reviews of companies?

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

I have been looking at anonymous online reviews of companies (such as on Glassdoor.com) when I see an open position for them. There have been a couple of cases where the job description might be a good fit for me but the company was poorly rated and got bad reviews.

My first question is: Should I let this information prevent me from applying to the company?There is a question of accuracy when it comes to online reviews (some can be accurate, some can be way off, there are department differences,etc.). Should I just take what's written with a grain of salt, apply anyway, and see for myself?

Secondly: Is it a bad idea bring up concerns I saw from an online review in the interview? If it's not, what is a tactful way to do so?

manpreet 2 years ago

I believe that people who are angry or otherwise dissatisfied with their employment experience are much more likely to put a review on a site like Glassdoor than those who are quite happy with their employment. So, I would take this information with a grain of salt and only let it dissuade you if there is a proliferation of it. For example, if there were only one negative review, I'd likely not care. But, if there are more than that, especially if they're discussing similar issues, I'd proceed more cautiously.

You should not explicitly state, in an interview, "I saw someone on Glassdoor complain about this, please respond." Rather, you should approach it a little more delicately by more generically bringing up the scenario that gives you pause. For example, if the complaint is "This place sucks because I have to clock in and out to go to the bathroom." You can get your concerns addressed by asking about the day to day comings and goings for the average employee or how they track hours in the office, etc...