Do a Background Check on a Company Before Acccepting a Position

Potential employers might have you sign a waiver saying they perform a background check on you to see if you can pass certain criteria. This is especially true if you apply for jobs with transportation, security or financial companies that require more stringent hiring practices. Luckily, you can do the same for a company before accepting a position to determine whether the firm is the right fit for you.

A background check on a new hire doesn't necessarily mean using your Social Security number to investigate criminal pasts. Investigations could include calling your references, checking your social media posts and talking to your former supervisors. All of this occurs so the employer can make the right choice when it hires someone.

You can perform this same type of due diligence on an employer before, rather than after, accepting a position. The best time to do this is before the interview so you can gauge how the organization operates, the company culture and any hidden items not readily apparent on the company's website.

Start With the Website

The easiest way to start a background check is through the firm's website. Examine any products and services the company offers. Look at the biographies of the management team, the mission statement and the company history.

Perform a Web Search

Type in the company's name in a general Web search to see if any news comes up. Consider doing the same for the firm's management team or any previous employers of the executives. If you see any previous companies that made headlines for the wrong reasons, consider digging a little deeper into the person's role within the previous employer.

Mine Social Media

Check out the company's social media presence, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Facebook and Twitter let you search posts that mention the company's name, so you can gauge the sentiments people have toward the firm. See how people react to various posts the company has made, and include that information in your background check.

Befriend Employer Review Websites

Employer review websites such as Glassdoor may give you a new perspective on a company. Former employees give anonymous reviews about various aspects of a firm, and they can be full of helpful information that sheds light on your potential future. However, you should take these with a grain of salt when you conduct a background check — employer review websites may have a negative slant from disgruntled former employees. Determine how many disgruntled employees are on there to see if this is a pattern or just sour grapes.

Get to Know Current and Former Employees

Become friends with current and former employees through LinkedIn. Ask these people for honest assessments of what it's like to work there. These people have nothing to lose by being honest with you, as you do not actually work for the company or have any clout with the firm.

This research can help you decide whether a company is right for you before you go into the interview process. The information you have also lets you ask relevant questions in the interview, so HR has a chance to explain any misgivings you may have. As such, a background check is a valuable use of your time that can save you a lot of energy and effort.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Haynie at Flickr.com