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I have met several job seekers who landed successfully and returned to the job search a few weeks or months later. Most of these individuals were devastated and blindsided. In today’s competitive market, it is important that you make sure (when feasible) that the offers you receive are solid. Below are a few techniques you can use to conduct this analysis.

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I. Conduct external and internal research:

View the companies’ websites, financial statements, and search engine results. You want to make sure these companies are financially sound and will remain a “going concern” in both the short- and long-term. This is fairly easy to do if these companies are public. If you receive offers from private companies, you could ask these companies about their financial targets and results, threats and opportunities, and short- and long-term strategies.

Also use your contacts to identify individuals who currently and previously worked at these companies. Afterwards, ask these individuals about their experiences, the companies’ stability, and any other relevant questions. For instance, you could ask current employees how long the previous person you are replacing stayed in the position including the reason why he or she left.

II. Utilize company review sites:

Another powerful external research site, is Glassdoor.com. You can register for free, write a review for a previous employer, and provide salary information for a previous position. Afterwards, you will gain access to company and salary reviews. Most importantly, make sure you use this site to lookup potential, future employers.