You spend too much time at work to settle for a job that’s not going to be a good fit for you, but how can you tell if it’s the right fit? The truth is, you may not be able to tell before accepting the position.
However, there are some red flags you can look out for during the hiring and interview processes.
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Rescheduling the Interview
While it’s true things come up, if your interview is rescheduled more than twice, it might be a sign that the company is disorganized and lacking in communication skills.
You may want to skip this opportunity for somewhere that respects you. Your time is every bit as valuable as theirs is.
Vague Job Description
If the job description that you are being given is very vague or you can’t gain any clarity by asking direct questions, you may want to pass. A good company is going to spend a lot of time creating its job descriptions so that it can attract the perfect candidate.
If they can’t clarify the description, you may find yourself hired to do one thing while actually performing another.
The Interviewer Doesn’t Listen Well
A good listener asks follow-up questions to learn more about you and your experience. Being a good listener is part of being a good boss, and bad bosses are a huge factor in employee turnover.
If they aren’t listening during the interview, they might not listen during your employment either.
Asking Inappropriate Or Leading Interview Questions
There are some subjects that are taboo for employers to ask about, including age, race, marital status, religion, or disability. That doesn’t mean that the interviewer might not try to find out more about them by asking leading questions that will give them that information.
Keep your answers professional and related to the job position.
They Refer to Employees As Family
Your co-workers are not your family, and they shouldn’t be referred to as such. A good workplace respects the fact that their employees have a family and keeps work conversations and tasks to business hours.
They Are Always Hiring
If you see the same company trying to fill the same roles over and over again, it’s a clear sign of high turnover. The reasons for this high turnover can be varied, but it’s not usually a sign of happy employees or job stability.
You might want to pass on this one for another opportunity.
Asking For Lots Of Free Work
It’s not unusual for a company to ask you to put a little something together so that they can evaluate your skills. However, when they are asking for large quantities of work or something that’s going to take hours of your time for free, you might want to say thanks but no thanks.
Sadly, there’s nothing to prevent them from taking that free labor and using it without compensating you.
Offering a Low Salary
It’s not uncommon for potential employers to start with a lower offer leaving, room for negotiation with a future employee. However, if the opening offer is lower than the salary range you’ve already communicated to them, you might want to keep it moving.
Not only is this disrespectful, but it’s also a sign that getting a raise or any other perks in the future may be difficult.
The Interviewer Discourages Questions
To make sure that a position is a good fit, you should be prepared to ask relevant and insightful questions about the company and the position.
If your interviewer seems angry, distracted, or defensive at your questions, this can be a sign that they aren’t interested in your thoughts or concerns.
Lengthy Hiring Process
If the hiring process is dragging on for weeks or months, it may be a sign that the company can’t decide whether or not they want to fill the position or what exactly the position entails.
In either case, it’s a sign of poor leadership and organization.
The Offer Letter Is Incorrect
Your job offer letter should be in writing, and it needs to be correct before you sign it. Your offer letter should include your start date, job title, compensation, job duties, the benefits you are eligible for, and when they start.
If any of this information is incorrect or missing, this can be a sign of disorganization or miscommunication within the company ranks. Keep your eyes peeled for additional red flags.
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I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
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