Are you currently in job hunting mode? Well, first of all, congratulations! Why would I say “congratulations” before you’ve even landed your new job? Because job hunting can be an exciting and rewarding experience—and no, I’m not being ironic. It’s a chance to learn and grow (always a good thing), as you navigate the often-challenging waters of resume writing, job interviews, and—hopefully—actual job offers.
I’ve written a lot about how to create a great resume, and how to rock an interview with your awesome communication skills, and next, I want to head in another direction…
When we’re applying for positions in various companies and organizations, most of us know, perhaps somewhat vaguely, what we’re looking for, such as health care insurance, an easy commute route, accessibility to public transportation, or flexible working hours. (And, by the way, it’s always a good idea to literally write out your list of “must-haves,” “wanna haves,” and “wish I could haves.” You’re more likely to get what you want when you know what you want!)
But as you’re beginning to connect with potential employers, are there some red flags you should be looking for? The answer is a resounding yes. Remember, you’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you, and to the best of your ability, you want to make sure you’re accepting a position that satisfies most if not all your job requirements, with a company that makes good on their job-offer promises.
In this two-part series, we’re going to examine the red flags that should make you stand up and take notice. In Part I, we’ll turn a magnifying glass on the job description you found on the company’s website (or wherever they’re posting), and in Part II, we’ll discuss the red flags that might reveal themselves in the actual job interview.
Let’s jump right in. When you read the job description you’re considering applying for, be aware of the following red flags:
Vagueness. If the job description seems to wander all over the place, it probably means one of two things: either the company isn’t sure what they really want or need (and don’t assume you’re the answer—you’ll just end up frustrated by their wishy-washiness), or even worse, they’re attempting to deliberately hire a person to do basically anything they can think of, on any given day. Not a good position to be in.
The famous “other duties as assigned” phrase. Sure, this could be an innocent “catch-all,” but it might also be a red flag, signifying that you’d better be ready to answer the phone, mop the floor, and take your manager’s laundry to the dry cleaners. This phrase was notoriously popular back in the “olden days,” but most reputable companies no longer use it.
Weird juxtaposition of multiple job titles. If you’re reading a job description that says, “night shift nurse/telemarketer,” or “food service worker/teacher’s aide,” something’s very wrong. Again, either they’re trying to hire one person to cover multiple jobs (and don’t assume the salary will reflect it), or they’re attempting to be so vague that no matter what they ask you to do, they can feasibly argue, “it was in the job description…”
Unpaid training. Reputable companies understand that training and orientation time are both necessary for a new employee to become successful in practically any job—and what’s more, they’re willing to pay you during your ramp-up phase. Avoid companies that don’t pay for the pleasure of training you—most likely, they’re simply trying to get you to work for free.
Permanent, continuous postings for the same job. If a job posting never, ever comes off the company’s website (or LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc.), beware! It means that this particular job, or possibly the entire company, is one that chews people up and spits them out (i.e., huge employee turnover), because of poor working conditions, impossible productivity requirements, a horrible boss, or who knows what else. Don’t risk it.*
*Unless this company is experiencing incredible growth! Then go for it. (And buy some stock while you’re at it.)
Wildly varying salary ranges and/or benefits. If you see something like, “earn between $20,000 to $500,000/yr.,” or “dental/medical coverage available after meeting specific requirements,” don’t bite. This company isn’t reputable, and there’s no way you’re going to earn half a mil a year, or receive top-shelf health benefits. If you accept the job, you’d better be prepared to receive the stated minimums.
That’s it for today. See you soon, when we’ll explore the red flags you might encounter in the job interview itself. Stay safe, and good luck with your job search!