Is Your Future Employer “The One?”

Marathon panel interviews, personality profile tests, handwriting analysis, extensive background investigations, credit score verification, reference checks and booklet sized employment applications….

Sound familiar?

Employers should take necessary steps to evaluate potential hires; however is there an equal opportunity for job seekers to obtain scrupulous and thorough information about a potential employer?             

Asking probing questions during your interview along with your own research to ascertain a company’s financial solvency, competitive standing, company culture and BBB rating can enable you to assess a potential employer’s reputation, character & integrity.

After all the research and work you’ve done, it can be overwhelmingly frustrating to learn after the fact the company you joined isn’t what it’s cracked up to be or claimed to be.   If you’re working with a recruiter/recruiting firm, have they provided valuable insight to compliment your research?  Or have they simply lined up an interview without providing a detailed account of what’s “under the hood?”  There are allot of good recruiting firms out there, however I’ve heard numerous stories over the years from candidates that have been told just about anything from a recruiting firm to just close the deal.

Some of the most dependable information you can acquire on potential employers or recruiting agencies is first-hand feedback from friends, colleagues, or people that are intimately familiar or have worked for the company or recruiting firm you’re considering or working with.

I’m looking into launching a group/forum which will allow candidates to exchange feedback and input about employers & recruiting firms.  The goal is to provide a collaborative online community which people can share thoughts, suggestions, input about employers & recruiting firms.   This is not intended to be a bashing forum, but a place which people can exchange insight, suggestions and non-biased input about potential employers & recruiting firms.  

I’d like to hear your candid thoughts, suggestions and input about a forum like this.  What are your thoughts?