The inevitable tripadvisor type 'rate your company' website has arrived, Glassdoor.com. The site appeals to the nosey parker number nine, in us all, in that you can view salaries at different organisations. It sidesteps the uneasiness that UK-type people feel, when discussing salaries or indeed money in general. We can now have a good nosey from the comfort of our own chair.
What's really interesting, from an employer point of view, is the employer review sections where employees rate their companies. In terms of employer brand reputation management, all these peer views and opinions will be very interesting. From a candidate perspective this site will be potentially very influential in shaping perceptions of organisations.
The key learning that organisations should take, is that in terms of employer branding, your values and employer value proposition will need to be genuine and have integrity, recognised equally by both your internal and external audience.
Reviews are anonymous and in return for your views and salary info, you get full access to all the info so the model perpetuates growth.
The US-based site intends to make money through recruitment advertising and is adding reviews on UK based employers in next two weeks, although there are already a few interesting ones on there.......
This article sums the whole offering up nicely.
Interesting ... peer reviews are so important and they do make companies change their behavior. I have even seen (good) companies change selection days and processes from feedback on message boards - especially in the graduate market.
It is amazing when you see the disgusting behavior of companies ...
A friend of mine whet for a job with a huge corporate ... a massive and well respected company. The company wanted to bring in more women ... driven by hr but the old boys did not like it
So she went to the selection day ... was told that she was by far the best performer, most professional and that she was probably too good for the job (that one is a killer).
But she did not get the job ... Why?
Well the only part of the process that HR were not involved in was a one to one interview ... during the interview she was asked about where she wanted to live.
She said a location near by but was told that it was a bit to far away ... her response was fine ... i am happy to move to that location.
She was told that she did not get the job because she did not want to live in the location ... eh?
They even said in the letter ... that they would like to place her in a role in the next few months ... as she did so well.
So the result is that she is pissed off, does not want to work at the company and has also made sure HR know that she said she had said she was happy to live in the location ...
Everyone lost out ... why ? because the interviewer is sexist, did not believe in the company values and was allowed by HR to interview people .
Now every time people mention that company to her ... she will tell them the story, she might even put it online (i have) and the company has the seed planted for a poor employer brand.
Publish it and tell the truth ... you never know a couple of people might change ...
Posted by: John Whitehurst | 22/08/2008 at 10:14 AM
I have also checked the reviews for the three american companies i have worked for ... all spot on.
Posted by: John Whitehurst | 22/08/2008 at 10:32 AM
I love it. This kind of thing is going to be huge over here very quickly and our industry is going to change faster than it ever has before.
Bring it on!
Posted by: Matt | 22/08/2008 at 12:34 PM
you start then Matt - how much do you earn?
;-D
Posted by: Alex Hens | 22/08/2008 at 02:03 PM
You know as well I as do that none of us get paid anything for blogging ;-)
Posted by: Matt | 22/08/2008 at 03:14 PM
John :
"Now every time people mention that company to her ... she will tell them the story, she might even put it online (i have) and the company has the seed planted for a poor employer brand. "
only if she/you dont go beyond "a huge corporate ... a massive and well respected company" and quote the name, its just as if you answered "its fine, its ok" to the "you earn how much" question, its interesting as an anecdote but doesnt bring much to the transparency / game changing in terms of EB.
dont you think ?
Posted by: thomas delorme | 24/08/2008 at 01:14 PM