How do you evaluate companies?

When looking for a new job, how do you evaluate companies? A lot of them sound so similar, especially start ups, everyone is a "unicorn".
How do you make sure you're not joining a company that's overhiring/that won't do well?
🧠 Advice
🎯 Career Development
🚀 Career Goals
13
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
5
☕️
Truth is, you'll have no idea if you're joining a rocket ship or a sinking ship.

Read up on them on Glassdoor, RepVue, etc, and make an informed decision based on what you read there COMBINED with your intuition.
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
4
sales
my gut. the human instinct is the most powerful tool you have. don't ignore it.

if it feels off, it is. move on to the next interview.
CoorsKing
WR Officer
4
Retired King of the Coors Knights
-Talk to current reps
-Glassdoor
-RepVue (or equivalent)
-3rd party industry research
-Do they have Coors light or do they have other inferior beers?
ri_ri
WR Officer
0
Account Executive
I like this, but what if the company is a bit too new and there is not enough data. Their main pitch is stock options that you’re getting and everything else seems ok but you can’t be sure as the company is growing fast. Any advice on what to do then?
CoorsKing
WR Officer
3
Retired King of the Coors Knights
Look at who their investors are, what their market cap is, and who they compete with. Third party research still holds here as well. 
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
3
Rolling 20's all day
For me, it's assessing the market that the company sells to and their fit in it. Then during the interview process ask questions that will reveal the truth of the organization. 
Here is a solid post from @SaaSam yesterday from Belal Batrawy
https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/stole-this-from-a-linkedin-post-but-it-s-actually-good-advice-for-all-of-us-going-through-interviews
someoneinsales
Tycoon
3
Director of Sales
I ask people that I have sold to in the past to check it out and see if it is something they would be interested in. 
Kirby
Politicker
3
Sales Representative
Don't ask me. I've had horrible judgment lol.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
Love ya Kirbs. ❤
ri_ri
WR Officer
0
Account Executive
Actually I do want to ask you hahaha, because I feel the same way. I do all the research and then somehow find myself in a position where the company overhired or hired a bad manager etc… and at one point you can’t jump and are supposed to stick around as people are going to say that you’re the problem. Sigh
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
2
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
With early-stage start-ups it's a gamble and it depends if you're willing to take that risk/reward. 

Do your due diligence and then flip a coin I guess. 
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
This is a very good question and something I would like to know more about as well.

The only advice I can give is, if it doesn't feel right, then don't do it. Hasn't let me down.
ri_ri
WR Officer
1
Account Executive
Have you made mistakes before? And what did you do about it? Stuck around or left?
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
Of course. I'm human. It's also how I finally learned to listen to my gut. Key word finally because I am slightly stubborn.

I did leave. I even changed industries because I was super burned out.
okaysalesman
Praised Answer
1
Account Executive
Hi! I recently had a post about this, lots of helpful ppl
https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/what-do-i-look-for-before-taking-an-offer
This linkedin post was super helpful. Used all of these questions in my final interview and I feel more confident about the role
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6835916791823257601
ElChupacabra
Opinionated
0
Founder
Got a few of those scars, too.  If you're looking into an early stage company, I'd suggest evaluating it the same way most investors do:

How big and fast growing is the market? (fast growing markets create opportunities that are usually more attractive than displacing incumbents in a stable market) How unique is the product or service? (what's the unfair advantage) What is the quality / experience of management team? (do they complement each other, do they understand the industry, are they honest about competition, are they personally invested) What is the business model? (how does the company and the investors make money - esp important if your comp package includes equity)

I'd recommend asking for references from the company / your prospective manager (most should be happy to do this if they're serious) and talking to independent people in the space to validate what the company has told you, like @Mooney suggests.
6

Reps that change companies often

Discussion
11
58
Members only

It's a candidate's market-- what attracts you to other companies?

Question
93
8

How do you evaluate your tech stack?

Question
13