Company Intelligence Hub
Evaluate job opportunities objectively. Research, identify red flags, and make informed decisions.
Red Flags Checklist
Research Toolkit
Questions to Ask
Compare Offers
Decision Framework
Saved Evaluations
🚩 Company Red Flags Checklist
Check any flags you've noticed during the interview process. Your assessment is saved automatically.
Interview Process
They're rushing you to decide
"We need an answer by tomorrow" is a pressure tactic. Good companies give you time to make big decisions.
They can't clearly explain the role
Vague job descriptions, unclear responsibilities, or "we'll figure it out" signals organizational chaos.
Excessive interview rounds (8+)
Companies that can't decide after 4-5 rounds often have decision-making problems throughout.
Interview process is disorganized
Last-minute reschedules, interviewers unprepared, or contradictory information between rounds.
They badmouth former employees
If they speak negatively about people who left, they'll do the same about you eventually.
No opportunity to meet the team
Not meeting your future coworkers could mean high turnover or hidden culture issues.
Compensation & Benefits
Won't discuss salary range
Refusing to share any salary information is a sign they plan to lowball you.
Significantly below market rate (20%+)
Suggests they undervalue employees or have financial problems.
No written offer letter
Verbal offers only is a major red flag. Always get it in writing.
"Competitive" benefits that aren't
No 401k match, minimal PTO, expensive health plans - claims don't match reality.
Heavy emphasis on "potential" compensation
"Base is low but bonuses could be huge" - unrealistic bonus promises to justify low salary.
Equity explained confusingly
Can't clearly explain vesting, strike price, or what happens in various scenarios.
Culture & Work-Life Balance
"We work hard, play hard"
Code for "we expect you to work constantly." Ask about actual work hours.
High turnover in the role
Multiple people in this position in the past 2 years? Something's wrong.
"We're like a family here"
Often means blurred boundaries, guilt trips about leaving, and unprofessional dynamics.
Interviewers seem stressed or unhappy
If current employees don't seem excited about working there, trust that signal.
No clear path for growth
Can't explain promotion criteria, career paths, or how to advance.
Office seems empty or chaotic
If you visit in-person, notice the vibe. Does it match what they told you?
Leadership & Management
Your future manager is new or leaving
You'd be reporting to someone who doesn't know the team or won't be there long.
Leadership can't articulate company direction
Vague answers about strategy, goals, or how your role fits the big picture.
Recent leadership changes
New CEO, multiple executives leaving - could mean instability ahead.
Glassdoor reviews mention bad management
Consistent themes in reviews about micromanagement, favoritism, or poor leadership.
Company Health
Recent layoffs or hiring freeze
If they laid people off recently, your role could be next on the chopping block.
Funding concerns or missed milestones
Startups struggling to raise, or companies missing revenue targets repeatedly.
Negative press or PR issues
Recent scandals, lawsuits, or reputation problems that could affect the business.
Outdated technology or processes
Using ancient tools, no innovation budget - could limit your skill growth.
Green Flags (Good Signs)
Transparent about challenges
They openly discuss what's hard about the role and company. No one pretends it's perfect.
Clear growth opportunities
They can explain promotion criteria, learning budgets, and career path examples.
Employees speak positively (unprompted)
People genuinely seem to enjoy working there - not just when asked directly.
Respects your time
Reasonable interview process, prompt communication, no unreasonable demands.
Low turnover, long tenures
People stay for years, not months. That's earned, not demanded.
Fair, competitive compensation
Offer matches or exceeds market rate without you having to fight for it.
Manager has clear vision for the role
They know what success looks like and can articulate 30/60/90 day expectations.
Strong onboarding process
They have a plan for getting you up to speed, not just "figure it out."
🔬 Company Research Toolkit
Use these resources and search prompts to investigate any company before accepting an offer.
📍 Where to Research
Glassdoor Reviews
Read actual employee reviews. Look for patterns in complaints, not just isolated incidents.
[Company] Glassdoor reviews
LinkedIn Company Page
Check employee count trends, recent hires, departures, and who works there.
[Company] LinkedIn employees
Blind (Tech/Finance)
Anonymous employee discussions. Unfiltered but take with a grain of salt.
site:teamblind.com [Company]
News & Press
Recent funding, layoffs, scandals, leadership changes, acquisitions.
[Company] news layoffs funding 2024
Crunchbase (Startups)
Funding history, investors, runway, founding date, key people.
[Company] Crunchbase funding
SEC Filings (Public Companies)
10-K for financials, 8-K for material events, proxy statements for executive comp.
[Company] SEC filing 10-K
Check industry subreddits for employee experiences and insider perspectives.
site:reddit.com [Company] working
Indeed Reviews
Another source of employee reviews, sometimes different perspectives than Glassdoor.
[Company] Indeed reviews
🔎 Deep Dive Questions
Leadership Stability
Has there been turnover in key positions?
[Company] CEO CTO CFO leaves departs 2024
Layoff History
Past layoffs can indicate future patterns.
[Company] layoffs restructuring
Culture Issues
Look for patterns of toxic culture, discrimination, or harassment.
[Company] toxic culture harassment lawsuit
Financial Health
Is the company profitable? Burning cash? Runway?
[Company] revenue profitability financial
❓ Questions to Ask in Interviews
Strategic questions that reveal the truth about a company. Ask them respectfully but directly.
🎯 About the Role
"What does success look like in this role in the first 90 days?"
Reveals: Clarity of expectations and realistic goals
If vague: "Can you give me a specific example of a project I'd own?"
"Why is this role open?"
Reveals: Turnover, growth, or team issues
If replacement: "What happened to the previous person?"
"How many people have held this position in the last 3 years?"
Reveals: Role stability and potential issues
If high turnover: "What do you think contributed to that?"
👥 About the Team & Management
"How would you describe your management style?"
Reveals: Micromanagement tendencies, communication preferences
"How do you like to give feedback?"
"What's the average tenure on the team?"
Reveals: Team stability and satisfaction
"Why do you think people stay?"
"How are decisions made on the team?"
Reveals: Autonomy vs. hierarchy, bureaucracy levels
"Can you give an example of a recent decision?"
📈 About Growth & Culture
"What does the promotion path look like for this role?"
Reveals: Career development opportunities
"How long does it typically take to move up?"
"What do people typically do after they leave here?"
Reveals: How the role prepares you for the future
"Do you maintain relationships with former employees?"
"What's something people don't realize until they work here?"
Reveals: Hidden aspects of culture (good or bad)
"What surprised you when you started?"
⏰ About Work-Life Balance
"What time do people typically log off?"
Reveals: Actual work hours vs. stated policy
"Is weekend work expected?"
"How is the team handling workload right now?"
Reveals: Understaffing, burnout risk
"What's causing that pressure?"
"When was the last time you took a real vacation?"
Reveals: Actual PTO culture vs. policy
"Were you contacted while away?"
🏢 About the Company
"What's the biggest challenge the company is facing right now?"
Reveals: Honesty, awareness, and potential issues
"How is the company addressing that?"
"How has the company changed in the past year?"
Reveals: Stability, direction, recent events
"What drove those changes?"
"What's the company's financial runway?" (Startups)
Reveals: Job security, funding status
"When is the next funding round planned?"
⚖️ Compare Offers
Evaluate multiple offers side by side. Scores saved automatically.
🏢 Company 1
Score: 0/8
🏢 Company 2
Score: 0/8
🏢 Company 3
Score: 0/8
🧠 Decision Framework
Weight what matters most to you, then score the opportunity. Get a recommendation.
Step 1: Set Your Priorities (1-5 importance)
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Step 2: Score This Opportunity (1-5)
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💾 Saved Evaluations
Your past company evaluations. All data stored locally in your browser.
No saved evaluations yet. Complete a checklist and click "Save This Evaluation" to save it here.