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Wouldn’t it be helpful if you knew the warning signs to avoid while applying for jobs in the first place? Here we’ve compiled a list of red flags to be wary of during your next job hunt. Let’s avoid terrible employment and dive into having more positivity in our lives.
You Don’t Want to Be a Rockstar
A user said, “Any use of the word ‘Rockstar.’”
If you’re reading a job description and see the word “rockstar,” steer away. The odds are the hiring manager for this position wants to hire someone who constantly goes above and beyond.
Even if you’re up for the challenge, your work will likely never be “good enough” because the manager or owner has unrealistic expectations.
Being Interviewed in a Group
Imagine being on your first interview and seeing a group of people join you without notice. Either the company isn’t confident about its hiring process or believes interviewing eight people simultaneously is a good idea. This would happen after the job application process, but you still have time to back out.
“I agreed to a Zoom interview, showed up looking professional, and noticed 8 other guys attending as well,” another user remarked.
Salary to Be Discussed
It’s 2023 at the time of writing. The current best practice is to list a salary or wage when a company is looking to hire. If you’re not seeing the salary estimate on the job posting, it’s likely not a good sign.
You can always type “job title + salary” in a Google search or on Glassdoor, but you may not like what you find. Unless you have no experience, this may mean the company’s budget will not be high for the position.
Unprepared Job Recruiters
“When I was younger and recruiters reached out to me without a salary chat I just took the interviews being naïve,” one user said.
It’s not uncommon nowadays to receive messages or emails from recruiters claiming to have “job opportunities.” Even if you’re desperate for a job, request information about the company, salary, and job title.
Often, recruiters will provide this information when prompted, and you may quickly discover the position just isn’t a good fit for you. However, if you get no response, this is a red flag that the job is either a scam or not worth your time.
Urgently Hiring New Candidates
If you notice that the job posting says “urgently hiring new candidates,” stay away.
That said, even if you don’t explicitly see this on the listing, you should ask about the old team during your interview. Depending on the answer you’re given, you may have to decide if this is the sort of environment you want to work in.
Fast-Paced Environment
A fast-paced environment might seem like a challenge to undertake, but it can often mean the opposite. Typically, companies post this to describe an environment filled with chaos and tight deadlines.
Work Hard, Play Hard
Coworkers can become great friends, especially because you’ll end up spending lots of time around them. However, drawing the line between work and your personal life is important.
Some companies believe this line is blurry and may require you to put in additional time with your team. Even if you’re young, not married, and have no kids, you shouldn’t be required to spend your personal time with your coworkers.
“…they schedule a lot of evening and weekend get-togethers that are unofficially mandatory,” commented a passionate user.
Startup Culture
Startups are seen as exciting environments to be in, right? You get to act like Steve Jobs, except you won’t be paid like him. Additionally, a startup environment will most likely mean you’ll have to wear many different hats and do work unrelated to your job title.
Occasional Overtime
Rarely is occasional overtime just that—occasional. If you see “overtime” on the job board, this is as red as a flag can get.
Many jobs disguise overtime because they know it will scare off potential candidates. However, if you already see this on the job board, it means the company believes working overtime will be expected of you.
Some Weekends
Like working overtime, “some weekends” means you’ll be working most, if not all, weekends. Consider asking about your day-to-day roles and how common working overtime is during your interview. Often, companies will purposely not state working overtime or during the weekends in their job posting.
Three Job Titles in One
“Your role was a/p, a/r, payroll, journal entry, bank recs. Then to add to that, SEO management, social media management, updating the website. Oh and if that wasn’t enough there was an HR requirement too. Hiring, training new staff, outlying policies, reviews, payroll, etc. so basically doing the work of 3 departments all for the great wage of 38k.”
As you search for your job, remember to look out for these red flags. You’ll save yourselves weeks, months, or possibly years from working a terrible job.
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