There’s been a lot of news out there lately about how employers are using social networking sites to vet candidates. Take, for instance, a poll released by the Society for Human Resource Management in 2011. The poll found that more than half of HR professionals (56%) use social networking websites to find and evaluate potential job candidates, a 34% increase from 2008.

As a Houston, Texas job seeker, you may want to take a cue from those employers and use social networking sites, as well as the Internet in general, to evaluate a prospective employer. After all, if you’re going to accept a position, you want to do whatever it takes to ensure it’s a great fit for you. Here are some questions to ask to get you started:

Who’s running the show?

Most employers will have a section on their website with bios for the management team and other key personnel. This is a great place to start. In addition to reading through their backgrounds, conduct a Google search or use LinkedIn or other business social networks to learn more about the team members. Try to get a sense of whether or not the company has competent leadership and be on the lookout for any red flags, such as news about ethics charges.

Does the company seem financially stable?

In your online research, look for any news articles relating to the financial stability of the company. If they’re publicly traded, you can find out whether they’re reporting profits or losses.

What’s their reputation like?

If you’re uncertain about a company’s reputation, network with others and ask if they’ve heard anything, positive or negative, about the employer. If you can’t garner any information that way, then Google the company. While their website might be the first in the results, look further down the list for more objective reports or valuable reviews about the company.

Also, if you know who your potential supervisor will be, then Google his or her name to see what comes up. They may have a personal blog or social networking profile you can use to learn more about that person.

Has the company recently experienced lay offs, or are they adding jobs?

This is the kind of question you should always ask during job interviews. Another way to learn about lay offs and hiring trends is to look for any news articles online.

Do I know anyone who works, or who has worked, for the company?

Nowadays, many companies have profiles on LinkedIn where you can view a list of those employees who also have LinkedIn profiles. Look to see if you know anyone they employ. If you do, reach out to them and ask about how they like working for the company. This kind of insider insight is invaluable!

If you need help finding an employer who’s a great fit for you, please contact Murray Resources. We’re one of Houston’s leading employment agencies, and as a result, we work with many of the city’s top companies. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you locate the job – and the employer – that’s the best fit for you.