The Exclusive Career Coach 288: Identifying Potential Red Flags When Looking for a Job
Here’s the link for the October Land Your Dream Job Accelerator:
I want to start by talking about an internal “red flag” – this has nothing to do with the company you are applying to and everything to do with YOU.
Each time you make a job move, it is so important to evaluate your current job. Think of this as a trip you are taking: What do you want to put in your suitcase and bring with you, and what do you want to leave there? In other words, what are the skills you enjoy using and want to utilize at least as much in your new role (Motivated Skills) – and what skills do you want to stop using or minimize (Burnout Skills)?
When you don’t do this work, you risk jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire…or, at best, not progressing in your career towards your ideal job.
Now let’s talk about the possible red flags an employer could be waving right in front of your face.
Unprofessional communication
If the employer or company representative communicates with you in a rude, unprofessional, or overall informal manner during the application process, it might indicate a lack of respect or a poor company culture.
As with most of these red flags, on their own they aren’t necessarily reason to run in the other direction, but rather an indication that you should investigate further. I do think it puts a stain on a company when THE PERSON THEY HAVE HIRED SPECIFICALLY TO DEAL WITH APPLICANTS isn’t communicative or friendly.
Vague job description
If there is very little information about the actual job duties or requirements, or the job description focuses a bit too much on how great it is to work there but without the corresponding information about the actual job duties or requirements, this could indicate a lack of organization or lack of transparency about the role.
This vagueness can also translate into the hiring process – are you getting answers to your questions, and in a timely manner? Are they openly discussing opportunity for advancement, job responsibilities, and company culture?
Super quick process and too-good-to-be-true offers
Be aware of recruiters that respond within minutes of your application – why are they so desperate that they are waiting around for you to apply? This kind of immediate response often correlates with a rapid, barely-there hiring process and pressure to accept the job offer immediately.
There may also be an extremely high salary or benefits that seem too good to be true. This all smacks of a scam – or at best, a job they can’t fill or keep filled.
Negative online reviews
Glassdoor, Indeed, and other sites offer online reviews and ratings for the company, often in a variety of categories such as culture, management, work environment, pay, and opportunity for promotion within. Look for balance and consistency here – are you seeing one negative review about culture and eight positives? Or are 75% of the reviews slamming a specific aspect of the company, such as pay?
Unrealistic expectations
Do the job duties mesh with the job title? With the pay? With the educational requirements? If any of these seem unrealistic for the role, it could mean a lack of understanding of the position. You may not want to be the Jane Goodall that treks into that forest of cluelessness.
Unusual interview process
I am hearing about this a lot from my clients – it was especially common during Covid. If there is an excessively long, complex, or intrusive interview process, it shows disorganization and a lack of respect for candidates’ time. Also, this lengthy process typically results in the top candidates bowing out for other opportunities; if you remain in the candidate pool and get hired, you might be working with a bunch of underachievers who didn’t have other job prospects.
A note about hiring projects: while some companies are paying candidates to complete projects representative of the work they would do in the job, most aren’t. It’s up to you to decide if you are willing to do the work for no pay and no guarantee of a job – don’t move forward if you can’t do it with a positive attitude, because it will become evident.
High Turnover
What can you find out about the turnover for the position you are applying for, the turnover in the department you would be working in, the company as a whole? You are looking for red flags around management, culture, or employee satisfaction.
Glassdoor is one good resource here; there may also be info around this in LinkedIn insights if the job is posted there. You can also reach out to a few former employees to find out why they left – you can find them easily on LI.
Lack of growth opportunities
I talked previously about asking this question – and making sure you get a clear answer. If the company doesn’t offer clear paths for growth, professional development, or advancement, it probably isn’t a viable long-term option for your career goals.
Non-competitive compensation
Simply put, outstanding employees don’t accept below-market compensation. Not only will you be underpaid – and likely undervalued – but you’ll be working with a bunch of underpaid, undervalued people. Not a good recipe for a positive work culture.
Payment requests
Be cautious of job opportunities that require you to pay upfront fees for training, materials, or other expenses – these should be covered by legitimate employers. This is most likely a scam.
Bottom line: trust your instincts and conduct thorough research before committing to a job opportunity – and listen to your gut.
DIY vs. DFY
DIY
If you are conducting a job search on your own, make sure your mindset is in the right place. Are you moving towards something new that you’re really excited about – or are you trying to run away from an untenable situation with your current job?
The energy with these two is completely different. The first energy means you’ll likely be confident and selective about the jobs you apply to, people you speak with, and how you present yourself. The second energy means you’ll be more likely to ignore the red flags and jump at the first slightly reasonable opportunity that comes along.
For help with your mindset, I recommend “Six Things Derailing Your Job Search,” available on my website at: https://exclusivecareercoaching.com/free-resources
DFY
If you find yourself ignoring red flags job after job, I highly recommend working with a professional like me. There is likely an underlying issue around your confidence, belief in yourself, or something else that is holding you back from doing the necessary work to land a job you love with a company you can fully believe in.
If you would like to schedule a complimentary consult to discuss working with me on this, here’s the link to my calendar:
https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2