Social proof is based on the idea of normative social influence, which states that people will conform in order to be liked by, similar to, or accepted by the influencer (or society). It is a psychological phenomenon where we are influenced by and conform to the actions of others. Social proof in talent outreach takes the form of employee confirmation that the company culture is as dynamic and supportive as the recruiter says it is.
Here are some of the ways to check the social proof of your employers:-
1) Glassdoor
Using Glassdoor to read up on a company before accepting an offer of employment, or even before applying, has become commonplace for job seekers. The same research from Small Business Trends also found that 54% of people now say that they read company reviews online, with the majority saying that they read at least six reviews before making their own judgement.
2) Indeed
Indeed’s employer reviews are segmented into a list of the best places to work and has around 500 companies that are reviewed and rated by current and past employees. Indeed is more like Glassdoor (both are owned by Recruit Holdings Ltd.) in the way employee reviews are conducted and also provide individual ratings as well as cumulative ratings.
3) LinkedIn
LinkedIn is more than a networking site; it’s a resource for job seekers to research companies and potential co-workers and a place where recruiters find talent. LinkedIn doesn’t provide user-based company reviews like Glassdoor or Indeed, but it’s a great way to see whether you have any current connections working at the company who might be able to give you insight into what it’s like to work there, or to establish a new connection — as long as you are upfront about your intentions.
4) CareerBliss
CareerBliss features over 3.5 million job postings, 4 million salaries and 700,000 company reviews, according to its website. It’s a one-stop shop to find open jobs, determine a fair salary and read employee reviews on the company. It’s been around since 2008, with a focus on helping users “find happiness in the workplace” and in their careers. It’s easy to forget in your job search that it’s not just about finding a job — it’s finding a place where you can thrive.
5) Social media
You’d be hard pressed to find any business, small or large, without some type of social media presence. And you can learn a lot about a business by looking at its social media pages to see what leaders in the organization post and share. “Most companies these days have more than just websites; they keep a presence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Crunchbase, etc. These sites highlight recent press about the company, new product releases, and highlight the company culture.
Head to popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see what content the organization posts and shares. If they have a YouTube channel, watch a few videos to get insight into the products, services or software the company offers. And while Crunchbase isn’t your typical social media platform, it’s a valuable resource in your company research. It was originally set up to offer information on start-ups, but it’s grown to include information on public and private companies around the world.
6) Quora
If you’re researching a company and the only resources you can find are from the organization itself, with little insight from past or current employees, you might want to branch out to get another perspective. At Quora, you can ask questions on nearly any topic and people will reach out to share their knowledge, perspectives, opinions and ideas. It’s a great way to gain an outside perspective on working for a company or in a specific field or job title. If you aren’t comfortable posting a question yourself, you can search to see if anyone else has asked it before and read those responses instead.
7) Visit the Company Website
Start by visiting the company website. There, you can review the organization’s mission statement and history, products and services, and management, as well as information about the company culture. The information is usually available in the “About Us” section of the site. If there’s a Press section of the website, read through the featured links there.
8) Ask your network for opinions
Seek opinions from trusted, reliable friends and associates. After you’ve done your research, discuss what you’ve learned with your network. Ask people you know for the inside scoop on their own company’s culture and if there are opportunities. If you’re a recent college graduate building your network from scratch, ask university advisors for names of alumni working at the companies.
9) Scan the news headlines for red flags
It’s a good idea to scan headlines for major changes in a company’s recent past. Note any significant events, such as widespread layoffs, corporate mergers or buyouts, a new CEO, etc. Such changes can bring opportunities, but could also result in low employee morale and leave a volatile work environment in their wake. Proceed with caution.
10) Review related local news stories, forums and business journals
Fortunately, there are thousands of media sources—including national and local news, trade publications, business journals, forums, and blogs—that provide articles and product reviews.
Please join the movement to be #FreeFromIgnorance and #FreeFromFakeCompanies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Can my employer see my glassdoor profile?
Ans: You can submit a salary review at any time without providing your employer name. Glassdoor will never post to your Facebook wall or Google account, nor will it display any profile information or links next to your contribution. Resumes uploaded to Glassdoor are not searchable by employers or other users.
2) Can an employer remove reviews about his company?
Ans: No. If an employer feels that a particular review is misleading, he/she can report the review using the ‘Report’ feature below each review. However, he/she will be required to mention the reason for reporting and provide relevant evidence to support the claim.
3) Can an employer request for the identity of a reviewer?
Ans: No. The employer will be able to view only the information that is publicly available on our website. By no means, the identity and any other information of the user will be disclosed.