Company Reviews By Employees: The Benefits And How To Write Yours On Jobstreet!

As a jobseeker, you have your eyes set on a certain company. But sometimes, the information that you seek is limited to the research you make prior to an interview. Sources you cull from are the company website and social media, most likely – both of which only have the company history, some client testimonies, and their corporate values.

While that information can be useful for your next job interview, you can also seek help from a source to get a glimpse of company culture. This said source is the company reviews by employees. 

These testimonials are straight from the work horses themselves, each one rich with details about aspects of the work life. Such examples include the environment, the team, the salary, to name a few. While these are sometimes hard to find, you can access them easily on JobStreet. Moreover, if you want to share your opinion, the platform allows you to do that. 

But before we get to that, let us take a look at the importance of these employee reviews. 

Why are employee reviews important for jobseekers?

In the same vein as employee background checks, jobseekers like yourself should do the same for companies too. The reason for this is to remove any personal bias. Sometimes, seeking out our “dream company” or “dream job” ends up blinding us. We refuse to see what the company for what it really is. 

Do not get us wrong – having a penchant for a certain company is good. But doing preliminary research can save us from regretting the said decision in the future. If you are choosing between companies, these reviews can help you weigh your options better. 

Also read: What is Compassion Fatigue? 8 Top Tips To Prevent And Overcome It!

Aside from the above, here are other benefits of reading up:

1. Find out what satisfies (or dissatisfies) employees

A review can strike you or become significant to you depending on your priority.  Checking out the ratings can help you see what employees of the company you are joining like or dislike. The factors can vary from salary to work-life balance principles. 

Aside from that, you can take a look at a company’s overall rating as well.  That way, you get a general overview of what working there is like.

2. Check certain concerns to bring up during the interview

A critical portion of any job interview is this question. “Do you have any questions for me?” Some people tend to decline answering it, but asking this can guarantee the interviewer that you are interested. When you read up on employee reviews, you can bring this up during your session. It can help you confirm certain questions you want answered, or issues that need addressing before you move on to the next step.

3. Get the inside scoop

With the pace that the working world is moving at, it is important to keep abreast of current events. Some company reviews also share insider news about what is happening within. For instance, you can check a review about a retrenched employee due to budget cuts. You can then weigh your options and see if such an opportunity is worth pursuing. 

How do I write a company review?

What etiquette goes into writing a review?

While experiences vary from person to person in a company, there must still be a little respect that goes into writing it. The reason for this is it will also reflect on you as not only a former employee, but as a potential talent for future employers. 

1. Stay professional, not personal.

Unless your experience involved harassment or bullying, it is important not to burn bridges with your former company. Remember that you are writing a review for your employer, so it is best to stick with the facts. Avoid including personal emotions if possible. And most of all, do not use offensive language or curse your employer.

Treat this as a virtual exit interview, where you are detailing your experience for the public to see. If you act un-accordingly, you could end up compromising yourself more, especially with your future opportunities.  

2. Keep the review concise and comprehensive.

The best way to have people read about your account is to keep it as short as possible. Use bullet points to get your point across, and add short descriptions to enhance the main idea. At the same time, ensure to provide as many details as possible. Cover all the bases, and highlight what you need to. They say the devil’s in the details, but in this case, there may be an answer waiting for a question your reader has. 

3. Make sure to have the correct details.

Just like how you would submit a resume, double check your review before submitting it online. If you want to share figures, make sure you do not miss or add on a zero. Paying attention to the details could make a world of difference to the ones who will chance upon your review – especially if they are weighing between options.

4. Share advice or tips whenever possible. 

Part of a review is for others to learn. Whether you have a positive or negative review, you can impart some wise words for future employees or jobseekers to absorb. For instance, you can share a quick hack about getting through a certain accounting system.

5. Do not be afraid to be honest!

Sometimes it is hard to share the truth. If you had a good experience, write about it! On the other hand, if you have tips for the company to improve on, share it too. These pieces of advice can help out the employee and the employer too!

Writing company reviews can be daunting, especially if you do not want to burn bridges. At the end of the day, honesty is as they say, always the best policy. After all, your experience is your story to tell, not anybody else’s. 

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