"I have primarily heard remarkable things about Company ABC. One area for improvement that came up was surrounding slow growth and limited career trajectory. Could you comment on that for me? I am interested in joining an organization where growth is present when I prove myself to be a valuable team member."

"I cannot remember where, but I did hear that Company ABC's hiring process can be slower compared to the average hiring cycle. Do you have a timeline in mind for filling this particular position? I am willing to be patient with your process, either way. Hiring someone new is an important decision that requires care."

"Negative does not always mean it's true, and this is one lesson that I have learned after years of being in a leadership role. I have heard primarily great things about Company ABC. Anything negative that I have heard, such as turnover or slow growth, are complaints that all enterprise-level organizations receive."

"I read a critical review about Company ABC on Glassdoor, likely from a disgruntled employee. I take those comments with a grain of salt, as there are always two sides to a story. When looking online, the positive far outweighed any negative comments."

"I have heard the usual comments retail stores receive regarding lack of training, unhappy customers, and high turnover. I asked around before coming here today as I have a couple of friends who have worked for Company ABC. Everyone I spoke to said it was a great environment, so I am going to lead with those positive thoughts instead!"

"One thing I have heard was that Company ABC's sales targets are very challenging to achieve. Are you able to speak to that comment? I am a proven top performer who loves a challenge, but I certainly want to be set up for success."

"School ABC has a wonderful reputation. The only negative I have heard was related to small budgets and some additional cuts. I am happy to discuss this further if you are open to that."

Avoid speaking negatively about the hiring company or expressing concerns in a blaming manner. For instance, saying, 'I heard that Company ABC doesn't offer equitable salaries to women and POC in its organization,' might make the interviewer go on the defensive.

Instead, you could say, 'A couple of former employees commented on Glassdoor that Company ABC offers inconsistent pay to its minority employees. It's important that Company ABC offers fair and equitable pay, so I am interested in learning more. Could you share with me what Company ABC has done in the past 12 months to ensure equitable treatment for all employees?'

The transparency brought by employer review sites can be beneficial for job seekers; however, it's important to note which negative reviews sound constructive and legitimate vs. those published online for pettiness.

For instance, if a former employee comments on Glassdoor that Company ABC has slow growth opportunities, this could be a legitimate and constructive review. However, if a former employee comments that Company ABC fires people for no reason, this is a comment to take with a grain of salt. It might just be that the former employee was let go with reason, felt upset by the situation, and placed 100% of the blame on the company.

In short - while researching a company, be sure to value balance in the reviews and forums that you read.

This question is tricky because you do not want to sound too critical and create an air of negativity in your interview. If you have heard anything negative about the hiring company, and the matter is concerning, you should bring it up and ask questions. Be diplomatic in your approach and ask the interviewer for further information or explanations.

As a well-researched and informed job seeker, it's essential to approach this question with a genuine interest in learning more rather than pointing a finger. Ask questions, listen to what the company has to say, and then make a judgment call that is best for you.

Let's say that you did hear a concerning factor about the hiring company, and you chose to ask questions in the interview. If the interviewer gets defensive by saying something like, 'That's not true at all,' this is a red flag. It could be a sign that the company does not have a culture of accepting feedback or working toward improvements.

However, if the interviewer shows transparency by saying something like, 'I have heard this criticism of Company ABC in the past, and we are doing X, Y, Z to ensure we improve in this area,' it's a great sign that the company is aware of its weaknesses and is working towards improvement.