How to Improve Your Glassdoor Rating

You’ve spent years building your company, carefully selecting your team, and working hard to maintain a productive work environment, but your Glassdoor rating isn’t reflecting this effort. You’re frustrated, and rightly so. Potential hires are bypassing your job postings because of a few unsatisfactory reviews, and your brand’s reputation is taking a hit. The good news is there are strategies you can implement to turn things around.

Understanding your current Glassdoor rating is the first step. Only by knowing where you stand and how your rating is calculated can you develop effective strategies to enhance it. This article will walk you through a detailed and actionable plan to improve your Glassdoor rating and attract top talent to your organisation.

Understanding Your Current Glassdoor Rating

What is Glassdoor?

Glassdoor is an online platform where employees can anonymously review their employers. They can share their work experiences and provide ratings on various aspects like interview process, workplace culture, management quality, and salary satisfaction. This transparency allows job seekers to make informed decisions based on candid opinions, which is why maintaining a positive presence on Glassdoor is so crucial.

Potential recruits rely heavily on Glassdoor to gauge whether a company is worth their time. If your company has poor ratings, you might miss out on talented candidates. Conversely, positive reviews can help attract the best talent, giving you an edge over competitors. By understanding what Glassdoor is, you can better appreciate the role it plays in your organisation’s success.

Pro-tip: Regularly monitor your Glassdoor page for new reviews and ratings. Consistent monitoring helps you respond promptly to feedback, showing both current and potential employees that you care about their opinions.

How is Your Rating Calculated?

Glassdoor ratings are calculated based on anonymous reviews provided by employees and former employees. Each individual rating (typically on a scale from 1 to 5) contributes to your overall score. The more reviews you have, the more balanced and accurate your rating will be. It’s a cumulative measure, reflecting the general sentiment of your workforce over time.

Important components:

• Overall rating: A summary score of all reviews.

• Sub-ratings: Individual scores on specific aspects like job culture, compensation, and work-life balance.

• CEO rating: A percentage indicating the approval rating of your CEO.

Glassdoor’s algorithm updates your rating as new reviews come in, so ongoing feedback is essential. Encourage employees to leave honest reviews, but be mindful of authenticity—fake reviews can be easily detected and could damage your credibility.

Pro-tip: Ask departing employees to leave a review. Exit interviews are a perfect opportunity to gather honest feedback and improve future ratings.

The Impact of Your Rating on Recruitment and Reputation

Your Glassdoor rating significantly impacts your recruitment efforts and overall reputation. When potential employees see high ratings and positive reviews, they’re more inclined to apply, which expands your talent pool and improves the quality of candidates. Moreover, a positive rating boosts morale among current employees, who are proud to be associated with a well-regarded company.

Negative consequences of poor ratings:

• Reduced applicant interest: Candidates may avoid applying.

• Increased turnover: Employees are more likely to leave.

• Brand reputation: Poor public perception can deter clients and partners.

In contrast, a higher rating can improve company culture and employee retention, as well as attract high-calibre candidates who can drive your business forward. Addressing issues head-on and engaging with feedback showcases your commitment to a positive work environment.

Pro-tip: Use Glassdoor analytics to identify trends in reviews. Look for recurring themes in the feedback to address systemic issues and improve your overall workplace culture.

Strategies to Enhance Your Glassdoor Rating

Capture Negative Feedback Before it Reaches Glassdoor

Preventing negative reviews on Glassdoor in the first place is one of the most effective strategies to improve your rating. Put systems in place to regularly gather feedback from your team or the wider business. Giving your employees a safe place to provide feedback will create an atmosphere of mutual respect that will make your team feel heard.

How to avoid negative reviews:

• Capture regular feedback: Either anonymously or via line managers.

• Show how you've resolved feedback: Share regular feedback in team meetings.

• Share the results with the team: Show how much feedback you’re receiving to encourage others.

Address Negative Reviews Constructively

If negative reviews are present on the platform addressing them with a constructive approach shows current and potential employees that you value feedback and are committed to improvement. Always reply respectfully, acknowledging the issues raised. Avoid sounding defensive; instead, show empathy and a willingness to address the concerns.

Steps to address negative reviews:

• Thank the reviewer: Appreciate the effort to provide feedback.

• Acknowledge the issue: Show an understanding of their concerns.

• Explain actions taken: Highlight steps already taken or planned to resolve the issue.

• Invite further dialogue: Encourage the reviewer to discuss further offline.

Pro-tip: Regularly check your Glassdoor page and respond to reviews within a week to show proactive engagement.

Show Progress and Respond Publicly to Feedback

Publicly responding to feedback demonstrates transparency and commitment to continuous improvement. When you make changes based on reviews, share these updates on your Glassdoor page. This transparency can build trust and improve your overall rating.

How to show progress:

• Update regularly: Post updates on any significant changes or improvements in your processes and policies.

• Highlight specific actions: Mention what's been done in response to specific feedback.

• Engage in dialogue: Encourage ongoing feedback and show openness to new ideas.

Pro-tip: Use monthly or quarterly updates on your Glassdoor profile to keep everyone informed about improvements and wider initiatives.

Leverage Positive Candidate Experiences

Positive candidate experiences are vital as they reflect well on your company's recruitment process. Ensure candidates feel valued and respected through timely and transparent communication during the hiring process. Using tools like Evidenced allow you to provide a great candidate experience during the interview process. We also capture candidate feedback after every interview, so you can spot issues and address them early before they impact your Glassdoor rating.

Enhance candidate experiences:

• Post-interview surveys: Send surveys to gain feedback and obtain permission to share positive comments on Glassdoor.

• Transparent communications: Keep candidates informed at every stage.

• Personal touches: Create a welcoming experience for your candidates during the interview process.

Pro-tip: Use positive comments and feedback from your Glassdoor ratings on your company careers site to show potential candidates that you provide a great place to work.

Regularly Update Your Company Profile

Keeping your company profile up-to-date ensures accuracy and shows you’re active. Include recent achievements, updated benefits, and new initiatives. An engaging company profile can profoundly impact potential employees' perceptions.

How to update effectively:

• Monthly reviews: Set a schedule to review and update your profile.

• Include visuals: Add photos and videos showcasing your workplace and culture.

• Highlight benefits: Regularly update the list of perks and benefits your company offers.

Pro-tip: Use your updates section to announce new initiatives, celebrate company milestones, and showcase culture events.

Improving your Glassdoor rating requires a genuinely engaged approach. By fostering positive employee experiences, addressing feedback constructively, and ensuring transparency, you create a cycle of continuous improvement. Implement these strategies to create a lasting, positive online reputation, reflecting your company’s commitment to growth and employee satisfaction.