"So why can't the same thing be done in reverse-where you can ask past employees to assess the company you're applying to? Sure, there's Glassdoor. But short of salty ex-employees publicly dragging old employers on social media-a relatively uncommon move, considering it's deemed unprofessional and may result in legal retaliation-there are no real formalized processes to run references on a company you're applying to."
"A recent Reddit post presented the argument: "Jobs be asking me for 3 references and I think I might start doing the same," it read. "Let me talk to three happy employees please." The logic is simple: When booking a restaurant for date night, most double check the reviews for other diners' experiences before making a reservation. Before pulling the trigger on a big purchase, many will scour the web for recommendations and product reviews, to ensure they are getting a good deal."
""When I get an offer, I always ask to come talk to the people who would be my peers/reports (since you usually already talk to the superiors in the interview)," one Reddit user commented. "Do people not normally do that?" Another added: "I did that for my last job. Got some actual good feedback and decided not to take it.""
Companies routinely request references to verify applicants' histories, skills, and cultural fit. Job seekers lack a formalized, reciprocal process to vet prospective employers beyond sites like Glassdoor and occasional public complaints. Social-media takedowns by ex-employees are rare because they can seem unprofessional and risk legal retaliation. Some candidates already pursue informal employer references by asking to meet potential peers or requesting explanations for recent resignations. Peers' honesty, rather than enthusiasm, provides more useful insights. Practical practices include talking to team members before accepting offers and reviewing patterns of departures and reasons to identify workplace problems.
Read at Fast Company
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