Why you should do your own background check on your potential next employer
Doing a background check is very crucial to your application process before, during, and after applying for a job. Researching a company is easy and doesn’t take much time. Most companies have a website and a couple of their employees on various social media sites, especially on LinkedIn. But why research a company at all?
I have applied for many open roles in many companies and received offers as well as rejections. I usually do not carry out any checks due to a number of factors such as I just need a job. Many of us have been in this scenario especially if we’ve been unemployed for quite some time. That’s mistake number one.
In 2021 I received an offer from one reputable company. I was thrilled to join them and I made a quick call to my parents to tell them about the good news. I wanted them to know that they no longer needed to worry no more since their son is now going to be a manager. The pay was decent as per my own naive knowledge of how some companies tend to low-ball offer an employment opportunity. It never crossed my mind till my Dad uttered some words that changed the whole situation. He asked are you sure the company treats their employees fairly and do they pay well. Find out my son before committing yourself to jump into the new opportunity. My Dad has never worked in Nairobi city and I expected him to have little knowledge of the company that offered me a job since it was based in the city. It was at this moment that I decided to do some background checks. I contacted a former colleague who had worked for the same advertised position in the same company. Long story short, my colleague just buried the situation. Nothing positive came out and I was devastated that now I really needed to make a significant career decision. I declined the offer and for a few weeks, I prayed that nothing will come back to bite me. Nothing justifies this situation, but either after every 2–3 months the same position keeps on being advertised more than 12 months down the line by the same company. How many of us have done background checks and uncovered things that made them drop the ball?
Whether you’re doing pre-interview research or you’ve already received a job offer. You are deciding whether or not to accept it, the research phase of your job search is perhaps the most critical from a job seeker’s perspective. Below are three reasons why you need to do your own background checks:
1. To know the company’s mission, vision, and culture.
Of course, you’ll want to ask your interviewers direct questions about their mission, vision, and culture. However, you can also tap into your own networks for any insights as well. If you meet any other employees (past or present) from the company during your interview phase, this question needs to be at the top of your list.
Researching an employer before an interview enables you to look beyond the company. You are likely to get a wider view of them, their brand, culture, and environment. Knowing what a company’s mission statement is and its value will help you uncover a deeper layer of the business. You’ll gain insight into what the employer cares about, and what they prioritize and it will ultimately help you discover who they really are. You’ll also have a bigger, more clear picture of the business. Not to mention a better understanding of what the company prioritizes or even what it might be like to work there.
Failing to carry out your checks will lead to a limited view of the company. This might be a problem for you later on, especially if you find that the company is not the right fit for you. Therefore, investing a little time in researching an employer will help you both learn more and make a more informed decision later on.
2. It better prepares one for the interview
Interviews can be quite shivery, no matter how well and long one has prepared for them. Awkward silence, even a two-second pause can seem to stretch for an eternity for an interviewee.
You are likely going to impress the interviewer when you can quickly illustrate how to help them achieve their long-term goals. Additionally, mention what you think about the company’s marketing efforts, culture, and mission. If you hadn’t done any checks beforehand, you might lose interviewers’ interest when they see you can’t answer simple questions. This also shows that you never bothered to prepare!
3. To know whether both you and the employer are a great fit for each other.
You get this, don’t you?
