Glassdoor: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Glassdoor has quickly grown into Yelp for job seekers. From company reviews to salary and interview info, job seekers are looking to Glassdoor for the inside scoop before they apply. Whether employers like it or not, their reputation on sites like Glassdoor can play a huge part in the decision-making process for the people they want to hire.

Like Yelp, the opinions expressed on Glassdoor vary— and often come from an emotional place. We're not perfect. We've all faced the temptation to write an angry Yelp review. While it's important for employers to take an active role in managing their online reputation, it's also important for job seekers not to take critical feedback personally.

That said, try to carry a healthy dose of skepticism and take your findings with a grain of salt. Take these one-star Yelp reviews of National Parks for example. Amazed how someone could one-star America’s most divine and majestic natural wonders? These kind of reviews show up on your Glassdoor, too.

So let's explore the good stuff you'll want to celebrate, the bad stuff you'll want to explore further, and the ugly truth you can’t escape. Glassdoor has a good bit of all three.

The Good

Regardless of what hiring managers believe true about their company, each review reflects someone’s true experience. Since everyone experiences life differently, no one review can tell the whole story of your organization. Searching for patterns and trends will serve you best.

Look at the overall rating and rating trends to understand the full picture. Filter by location or job title to narrow in on the particular team or function you're exploring. Levels of engagement and satisfaction might tell different stories depending on location, department, and job function.

Self-reported salary information can be helpful early on in your research too— especially if you haven't discussed compensation yet. This information reflects real, anonymous earnings of current and past employees. But remember, this is a just quick pulse check. You don't know when these salaries were submitted or by whom. There are often large gaps between what's posted on Glassdoor and the actual salary for the role you're exploring.

The Bad

Anonymity is both a blessing and a curse. Without it, there would be no Glassdoor (think about it; would you leave an honest review of your company and sign your name to it?). But, with it, we have no idea where the information's coming from. We know the reviews were all submitted by past, present, and prospective employees, but that’s all we've got.

Glassdoor's biggest downside isn't the content itself, but rather our own willingness to blindly trust and accept the opinions expressed as truth. Even once you identify the content that appears to be most relevant to you, reviews are still subjective and inherently biased. While this doesn't discredit the sentiments shared (remember: your experiences are your reality), it should inspire you to read with a critical eye.

So when you come across a one-star review, a mismatched salary estimate, or a wild interview ordeal, don't automatically run for the hills. Research is important, but it's not everything. In fact, nothing beats hearing it straight from the horse's mouth. Go to the interview and take it upon yourself to debunk and/or confirm your concerns. Your truth lies in your own personal experience. Don't let someone else dictate that for you. You could end up missing out on a great opportunity.

The Ugly Truth

According to Glassdoor's Fact Sheets & Site Stats, the average company rating is a 3.4 (based on a 5-point scale: 1.0=very dissatisfied, 3.0=OK, 5.0=very satisfied). If you find yourself reading a laundry list of one-star reviews for a low-rated company, be wary.

Still, do your due diligence, but proceed with caution. Depending on the opportunity you're exploring, you may have the chance to drive change around some of the issues surfaced. This could be a really exciting opportunity with the right support in place. And who knows, there may already be changes brewing internally. You will never know unless you ask.

So when your interview day arrives, don't be shy about inquiring. Express your understanding around the biased picture Glassdoor can paint, then respectfully voice your concerns. Ask the interviewer what initiatives are underway to address these findings and see what they say. Their response will be a great indicator of the employer’s self-awareness, values, and dedication to their people. From here, you’ll be much better equipped to make an informed, well-rounded decision for your future.

Ultimately, it's your time to spend (or waste), and your time is the most precious of all. Despite everything discussed on forming your own opinion, do you. If it looks, swims, and quacks like a duck— chances are, it's probably a duck.