I was looking at a listing of the top niche job boards the other day and noticed that there were a couple geared towards college interns and recent graduates. They caught my attention not only for the number of young adults who ask me for job search help but also because we have a college senior in the family.
As I looked at the postings listed, I noticed that a few of them were for jobs at young start- up companies and some of those companies didn’t have a web presence. I thought that was an oxymoron since I naturally associate the “young” companies with having a current social footprint or presence. The lack of a social presence was a red flag to me; it’s like a job seeker not having a LinkedIn profile and expecting to find a great job right away. I then went over to Glassdoor.com and looked to see if these companies were represented and if so, did they have any reviews. Sure enough, many of these companies received poor reviews for misinterpreting the job responsibilities or other infractions. Students who were eager to find their place in the workplace, were getting duped.
Maybe students are not as gullible as I was at that age but with the unemployment rate for those in the 20 – 24 age range about 9.8% it was disappointing. I thought about the information I could pass along to my son about some of these companies and here’s what I suggested:
• Use LinkedIn for company feedback. Go into stealth mode (or not) and review the profiles of people who work at these companies. Look into the feedback in groups too.
• Use an organization such as Glassdoor.com to review company feedback. Not only read the comments but look at the charts and statistics as well.
• Ask your college career office for feedback. Ask your family for feedback.
• Look up the company’s on line presence. Are they on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? Do they have a website?
• Take a look at the company location. Can you drive there? Is there parking? What’s the neighborhood like? Use a map application or if possible, take a drive.
• If you are called for an interview, and you are comfortable with the company, go for it. Ask thorough questions about the company products and services. Ask about the strategic direction and the day to day operations. Ask specific questions about the position. Look at the staff and surroundings. Listen to your gut.
When my son and his friends talk about the tough job market and how some of the companies are bogus or misrepresent the positions I tell them that it was like this when I was entering to workforce too. The key is figuring it out through research and work. I also remind them that an interview is two-sided. You are not only showcasing your skills, knowledge and behaviors for an organization but they need to sell themselves to you, too. In the end, if the company isn’t for you, look at the process as a chance to learn, practice your interviewing skills and move on.