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What does that even mean? Applying for a job blind? Huh, come again? Many do not actually realize that most jobs advertised on job boards in Australia are through recruitment agencies where the company themselves are not displayed. There are reasons for this. In some cases, the business has requested to not disclose their name… which is kind of sus isn’t it? I think you know which side of the fence we are on by reading this. But seriously, how can one apply for a job without knowing the business? It is more common than you think, which really sucks if you ask us. A job is part of your livelihood and to make an informed decision for yourself, you need to have all the facts. A job ad only gives you so much information, the rest is up to you to figure out to see if it is the right decision for you. Next time you’re thinking of applying for a job without knowing who the company is or having done your research, here are 5 reasons to not click that apply button.

1. You cannot do your research

This is the obvious one. How can you possibly do your research about a business without knowing who it is? How will you know how others feel about the business? What is the culture like? Are there development opportunities? Do they value people? There are so many questions that just cannot be answered. Yes, there is always the alternative of contacting the recruiter to get the information, but not only do you not have too, but chances are they may be biased. In most cases, the recruiter will not divulge the information until you’ve met with them which is a bit of silly process. We cannot stress enough to not rush and apply for a job with a company you know nothing about.

2. What message is it sending?

What goes through your mind when you see an ad for a job where they have hidden their details whether it is directly through the business itself or a recruitment agency? It makes you think, doesn’t it? There are only so many scenarios that one would think when a business hides such information. Are they firing someone without them knowing? Are they ashamed of their reputation? Is the brand under fire? The more businesses that hide their name when it comes to jobs, the more questions it raises. And from experience, they’re generally not good questions. But that’s up to you to decide.

3. Poor reputation

If you’re a brand that values people and truly lives by positive values, why would you hide it? Businesses that have a poor reputation either comes from a customer base by no providing a high level of customer service (IE: Customer hate them) or they provide poor working conditions for their staff. Both are very difficult to be part of. It’s difficult to fix some issues without the appropriate support from leadership. Again, this causes more questions, right? If a business has a poor reputation, there would be obvious reasons for it. Be careful is all we’re saying.

4. Don’t be another statistic

We’re all about transparency. We believe nothing should be hidden from you so you can make the appropriate decision that suits your needs without going above and beyond just to get an answer. It’s tiring, it’s frustrating and you deserve better than that. Recruitment agencies are there to help people find jobs, and some do an amazing job where they put your interests first but remember they are salespeople at the end of the day. They work on commission. It’s in their best interest to get you the job whether it suits you or not. Don’t rely on their feedback about a business, do the research yourself. Let me give you an example. A colleague of mine was approached about a job where the culture was claimed to be amazing. A very people-focused culture. A quick search on Glassdoor found the overall rating of this business was only a 2.6 out of 5 with most of the feedback saying how toxic the culture was. Food for thought next time you hear amazing things about a business without doing your own research.

5. You deserve better

It’s as simple as that, isn’t it? A job is not just a job. It’s so much more then that and businesses need to start realizing it. When you devote your life to a business, they have a commitment to you as well. So why should the process be so difficult or expect people to make decisions without information? You chose a holiday destination because you want to go there. You don’t close your eyes, point and off you go (well, I certainly hope not!). You go based on emotions and desires. The same should be said for jobs. The more people stop applying for jobs blind, the more you’ll see change because it just won’t work.

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Your happiness matters – in general. Whether it’s work or personal. We’re trying to remind you that your job is important to your health and wellbeing and should always make the right decision for you. But how can you without the necessary information? If you’re not taking your job search seriously, we recommend you do. Many of us get tied up in the recruiting process. It’s not the most exciting, so we apply for as many jobs without thinking just so we don’t have to keep searching. It’s not the way it should be. Taking the time to thoroughly review jobs and businesses will have a long term positive impact on your wellbeing because you will most likely find a company and culture more suited to you. Remember, this is all about you. No one else. Start taking it seriously. We know it’s frustrating but remember you are not alone.