Before the rise of “all things internet,” job seekers typically had very little information upon which to form their opinions of potential employers.
Then along came Glassdoor, an employer review site where employees (and interviewees) can leave anonymous feedback on what it’s really like to work for your company. With a rapidly growing database of over 6 million company reviews, CEO approval ratings, salary reports, work/life balance ratings, office photos, interview reviews and more, Glassdoor is dramatically transforming the way job seekers research jobs and companies.
A few key statistics from a recent poll of 4,600 U.S. workers by SoftwareAdvice.com:
- 48% of survey respondents use Glassdoor as part of their job searches.
- Nearly half of Glassdoor visitors use the site as a way to narrow their search before applying for jobs.
- After getting an offer, about 15% of respondents use Glassdoor reviews to decide whether or not to accept the position.
Numbers like these make one thing clear: Glassdoor is significantly influencing job seekers’ opinions about your company.
How does it work?
When employees use Glassdoor, they are asked to rate employers using a scale of one to five stars on the following factors:
- Culture/values
- Work/life balance
- Senior management
- Compensation and benefits
- Career opportunities
In addition, users can also leave open-ended feedback about their interview and/or employment experiences.
Should you fear or value Glassdoor reviews?
The answer is: “It depends.” Keep the following points in mind:
- Of all the rating factors, positive reviews about a company’s compensation and benefits are the top driver of job applications.
- Negative reviews about a company’s compensation and benefits are the primary reasons why applicants decide not to apply.
- Reviews have a relatively short “shelf life” – almost half of job seekers look only at reviews that are six months old or less.
- The majority of job seekers using Glassdoor are mature, urban individuals earning between $25,000 and $50,000. If you hire primarily outside these demographics, you have less to fear or gain from reviews.
- Feedback on Glassdoor is anonymous. This lack of accountability means that reviews may not be totally trustworthy.
So if you are a large, well-known employer that recruits mature individuals for middle-income positions, Glassdoor can significantly impact your employer brand – and your ability to attract and retain the best talent. Keep tabs on feedback and don’t let the occasional negative rating concern you too much.
If you notice consistently low scores in one aspect of your business (especially compensation and benefits), take the feedback to heart. In addition to deterring good candidates, chronically low Glassdoor ratings can indicate organizational problems that may drive your best employees out the door.
Need help attracting top talent?
Trust one of the leading Hendersonville employment agencies – Wood Personnel. With a vast talent network, and a long track record of success in serving the Middle Tennessee market, we can help you quickly and cost-effectively find the great people you need. Contact us today to learn more about our direct hire services.
