I have an interview coming up at a mid-sized firm, but their Glassdoor reviews are pretty rough. I checked out their LinkedIn, and there have been a lot of recent departures too. I definitely want to ask about the attrition rate, but should I even go there? I want to know the truth, but I also really don't want to blow my chances of getting hired.

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If you are in need of a job then it's a tough spot. If you are employed or have other options you have every reason to ask about the publicly available information and should avoid toxic options. Chances are your research is correct and they won't be happy having to address it. They may have some cliche HR response but the reviews and attrition speak volumes.

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I’d take the reviews with a pinch of salt as people tend to post reviews more after the have a negative experience with a company. You can probably ask about this in the interview and I can’t imagine that they’d have a problem with it as it’s public information

Many mid to large companies will have their share of negative reviews. Some of these reviews could be former employees venting their experience with the company. Those with a positive experience usually don't speak out as frequently as those that have had a negative experience.

How many of these negative reviews are recent (or are they over a year old), and are they directed at a department or upper management?

Yes, bad reviews can be a major red flag, but context is key. You should only be worried if multiple recent reviews across different departments highlight the exact same issues (e.g., toxic culture, low pay). Always check if the company responds professionally or tries to cover up legitimate employee feedback.
When to Worry (The Real Red Flags)
Recurring Themes: If multiple reviews complain about the exact same issue (like micromanagement or high turnover), it is likely a systemic problem

Suspicious Activity: Be wary if there are waves of identical, 5-star positive reviews dropped right after a batch of bad ones, which often suggests a fake review campaign

CEO Approval: If the CEO approval is under 50% or excessively high (over 95%), it can indicate poor leadership or strict corporate censorship

When to Take With a Grain of Salt
Isolated Complaints: Upset former employees are much more likely to leave reviews than happy ones. A single, dramatic negative review among dozens of good ones usually just means it was a bad culture fit for that specific person.
Out-of-Department Feedback: Pay close attention to the role. Customer service or warehouse roles may have vastly different daily work experiences and management styles compared to corporate or engineering roles.
Personal Grievances: Look for balanced, professional feedback regarding company operations rather than petty, personal attacks

How to Investigate Further
Check LinkedIn: Use LinkedIn to find current or past employees who held the same role. Reach out to ask for an honest, unfiltered perspective about the department's culture.
Ask in the Interview: Turn the interview around and ask for their side. You can bring up the feedback respectfully: "I was doing my research and saw a few comments about [Specific Issue] online. Can you share how leadership approaches this kind of challenge?"

Just do the interview - there’s no harm. You’ll get an idea about fit in that initial discussion.

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