SEATTLE — As of mid-January, about 200,000 people in Washington are looking for jobs.
According to the most recent data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state's unemployment rate is four percent.
Before responding to a help-wanted ad, the Better Business Bureau Great West + Pacific is encouraging people to research the company behind the ad to make sure it’s a place you want to invest up to eight hours a day – five days a week.
Dale Dixon, chief innovation officer with Better Business Bureau said it's easiest to first check on a company's online reputation.
Using BBB reviews, Google reviews, Glassdoor and Nextdoor, are reliable resources, according to Dixon.
"Remember – trolls and disgruntled employees might not be giving the most honest review, so be skeptical of a few negative reviews – or one person who’s posted the same review on a number of sites," Dixon said. "If you can’t find anything positive, it’s time to expand the search."
More recommendations:
- Explore the Company Website: Start by looking at the company website, which can tell you a lot about its mission, values, and culture. You'll want to dig through the company's About page, careers section, and blog.
- Dive Into Social Media and LinkedIn: The company's social media pages and LinkedIn profile are excellent sources of information about the culture and the tone they use to interact with their audience1. Companies often use social media to highlight events and any nonprofits or specific causes they support.
- Search News Articles: If the organization is more extensive, you can often find articles on business and news sites about them. You'll discover if they've struggled with rotating leadership or widespread layoffs, for instance, or if they've won accolades for an excellent, employee-first company culture.
For more information and to search available online BBB profiles or company complaints - visit BBB.org.