Job Search Red Flags
Recently in my job-readiness group we were discussing job interviews and how to prepare for them. One of the things I always tell my clients is that just as the employer is interviewing them to see if they’re a good fit for the job, they should be interviewing to employer to see if the job is a good fit for them.
Red flag!
Oftentimes during a job search you may encounter situations that make you think twice about accepting a job offer. Sometimes, however, you don’t recognize certain things are red flags until after you’ve started the job. Hindsight is always 20/20.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
The workers look miserable, or worse, angry: This is a sign of a toxic work environment.
The interviewer is rude or disrespectful to you at an interview.
The job description is vague or unclear: Just what, exactly, are you applying for?
The interviewer is late to the interview: It’s rude and inconsiderate.
The first thing the interviewer asks you is how you would handle a difficult boss: Because they are a difficult boss. RUN!!!
The organization is top heavy: Too many bosses, not enough workers.
The employer tries contacting you in the evening, on a weekend, or on a federal holiday: Umm…is there no work-life balance?
The interviewer looks sloppy, disorganized, and unprofessional.
They hire you on the spot or force you to make an immediate decision about the job offer: Desperation is not attractive. What’s really going on that they’re in such a rush to hire someone?
They take months to hire you: Do they even want you to work there?
The application process is long and cumbersome: Too many “assessments”, hoops to jump, and other hurdles makes you wonder if they’re just stringing you along. Are they even serious about hiring someone?
The position has been open for ages: Why haven’t they found anyone? Are they being too picky? Is it something else?
The interviewer/hiring manager keeps pointing out your faults: …leaving you in tears.
True story, that last one happened to me. It was very early in my career before I developed a thick skin. The interviewer kept bringing up how I was completely wrong for the position. Surprisingly, I was called back for a second interview, which I ended up declining. Had I been hired, that person who interviewed me would have been my boss, and I thought that if he was that much of a jerk to me at the interview imagine how bad things could be if I had to actually work with him. It was a good decision on my end, as an even better opportunity came my way.
When the job market is tight many job seekers might ignore these red flags because they’re desperate to work and earn money. In the current job market, however, many employers are struggling to fill positions, so jobseekers today now have the luxury to be more selective about the jobs they apply for and the job offers they accept. More reason to watch out for employer red flags.