You’ve applied for a job and successfully interviewed. Now, you’re holding an offer. Before you accept the job, take a step back and make sure you have enough information about the company to make an informed decision.
Benefits
Your job offer should include information on benefits, but if details are missing, ask the company for clarifications. If you know anyone who’s worked for the company or fielded a job offer from them, ask what kinds of benefits they were offered. Take a look at the company’s website to see which benefits it advertises. If there’s any discrepancy between the benefits offered you and those listed on the company’s site, or if people in your network have been offered better perks, use this opportunity to negotiate the benefits you’re hoping for.
The culture
Find out what the company’s culture is like and whether they value employees and support long-term growth and development. Ask people in your network if they’ve ever worked at the company and what their experience was like. If there’s a union that represents hospitality employees in your city, check if it’s on good terms with the company’s management or if there are any ongoing disputes. Ask the Better Business Bureau how many complaints it receives about the company and what percentage of complaints are resolved. Search employee review sites, and look at reviews by guests on travel sites, too. If guests are dissatisfied with the company, that’s a hint that the work environment might be stressful for employees or that employee training might be inadequate.
Public perceptions
Ask your friends if they’ve heard of the company and what they think of it. See if the company has been in the news lately and whether it gets positive or negative media attention. Search Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for mentions of the company. If you take the job, you’ll be associated with the company’s brand, so this is the time to learn how people view that brand.
Upcoming changes
Search press releases for mentions of the company. Have they announced any expansions or partnerships? Are they merging with or being acquired by another company? Are they planning to enter a new market or close any properties? This information can tell you if the company is planning any big changes in direction that might affect your job if you come on board.
When to gather information
You definitely want to gather information on the company before deciding on a job offer. If you have the opportunity to research the company earlier in the application process, that’s even better. While you don’t need to have detailed information before sending out a resume, knowing more about a company when you go into a job interview can give you an advantage. You’ll be able to impress the interviewer with your knowledge. And if you have any concerns about information you find, you can bring up some of those issues in the interview or request additional informational interviews to address them. Starting research sooner rather than later also gives you time to hear back from more people in your network who have experience with the company.