When it comes to the job search, it can be difficult to discern if the companies you have your eye on are truly great places to work. Sure, you can scour LinkedIn for employee contact information and ask them yourself, but this can often be awkward for job seekers. 
Luckily, there are a slew of questions you can ask interviewers to uncover company culture. Among the questions job seekers should ask during an interview:
1. Can you describe a typical day in this position? Can you describe a typical day in the office overall?
2. What types of people do well in this position? What types of people struggle?
3. What are some shared qualities among your employees and management? Can you name a few of your company’s most important values?
But asking important interview questions like these isn’t the only step you can take to discern if a company is a great place to work. Career site Glassdoor recently released its fifth annual list of the Best Places to Work for 2013. The list of companies span a range of industries and were selected by employees themselves. To be eligible for the list, companies must have at least 25 approved company reviews on Glassdoor every 12 months. The reviews, which are posted anonymously on Glassdoor, have to be provided by employees themselves. Only one review per employee per year is accepted.
While big companies like Facebook, Apple, and Google made the list, let’s be realistic–while you shouldn’t dismiss your career goals, it’s going to be difficult for the average job seeker to land a position at these companies. Here are a few other notable contenders that made Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work list. Some may surprise you:
In-N-Out Burger - Employees say this fast food company provides a great first job with room for growth. The company holds monthly meetings to showcase outstanding employees, as well as parties and small gifts from corporate. The only cons: there’s a lot of cleaning, and the busy atmosphere may be overwhelming.
Boston Consulting Group – Employees report tons of career opportunities and open doors at this company. Managers ensure even the most menial work is purposeful, and health benefits and pay are described as “phenomenal.” Job seekers should know they may average more than 50 hours per week at this company.
Southwest Airlines – Freedom to fly about the country and great benefits make Southwest Airlines an employee favorite. While the salary is “not terrific,” benefits make up for much of it.
Salesforce.com – This innovative company offers a great culture, and integrated philanthropic efforts from your first day on the job. Job seekers should realize that collaboration can be a challenge in this more egotistical environment, however.
Trader Joe’s – Workers love Trader Joe’s unlimited advancement opportunities and great benefits, including employer-paid retirement and plenty of time off. Cons: rotating shifts, some late hours, and opportunities for a raise come only once a year.
IKEA – Managers at IKEA have an open-door policy with employees, so all concerns and requests are met. Though pay is low to start, performance reviews are conducted each year.
Starbucks – Employees report excellent employee benefits packages at this coffee shop. However, many new store openings across the country means core principles are now lacking in many locations.
Choosing companies to look into during your job search can be difficult, but job seekers can use Glassdoor’s annual list–and the website’s slew of other career tools for gauging company fit–to help along the way in their job search. You can check out Glassdoor’s complete list of best places to work here.
Have you ever worked for any of these companies? What was your favorite company to work for? Did it make Glassdoor’s list? Share your job search and employee experiences in a comment below.
