Job hunters warned of interview promises that sound too good to be true
When you're job hunting, it can be difficult to sort the good opportunities from the bad. Sometimes, everything looks like it's going in the right direction until a manager drops a bombshell during your interview. Other times, you might raise your eyebrows at an unusual question but not think to act on your suspicions.
Either way, you're in luck as an expert has revealed a number of employer "red flags" you ought to look out for. From interviewers who ask too many personal questions to those who hesitate to share the salary, there are several indicators that you might need to be on your guard.
Granted, there might be a completely innocuous reason for some of the supposed red flags, but there are occasions when they should set alarm bells ringing. Jana Kejvalova, from Suited Insure explained: "It's difficult enough for many to find a job in the current economic climate as there's tough competition when going after desired job roles. But what can be even worse is being successful in securing a role only to discover what was originally offered is nothing but further from the truth. We advise everyone to be cautious when applying for jobs, even when it comes to the post-interview stage as there are many red flags that can appear before you settle into the workplace."
First up, you should be mindful of offers of unlimited holiday allowance. "The thought of unlimited holiday sounds like a dream at first. But some companies which offer unlimited holiday allowance have unwritten rules around responding to emails and internal messages whilst out of office. You could end up working even when on your unlimited holiday," said Jana. Talking of holidays, if the standard holiday allowance is "represented as a perk and not a given requirement, then it's not something worth bragging about," according to the pro.
Equally, you should be wary of managers who brag about the workplace's family culture. "If a workplace says they work as a 'family' it's likely they've got something to hide. Not every working relationship is going to be perfect, but there's no good sugar-coating it to make everything appear flawless," the expert claimed.
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On the other hand, a lack of workplace culture may also be a concern. "The workplace is somewhere where you want to be comfortable and have solid working relationships that make you want to succeed and do well. Keep an eye on how their social pages are and whether any of the employees appear happy to be at the company," advised Jana.
All of that being said, the interview shouldn't be centred around personal questions. "If the interviewer asks too many personal questions about your life outside of work it could be a sign the boundaries between the office and home will be blurred when you get into the role," warned the expert. "This means they could ask you to work beyond your office hours."
However, you might find you don't encounter any of the above problems and it's the job requirements or salary discussions that raise red flags. For instance, you shouldn't be left waiting to find out the salary. "Not every job offer has the salary stated on the advertisement, but if it comes to post-interview and the company is hesitant to state how much you'll be earning it can be an immediate red flag," the pro said.
You should also be told in advance of the interview if the role is commission based. "If you get through to the interview stage and find out the money you'll earn is commission based without knowing to begin with, it's a definite red flag and not a great start to the company. This could result in further pay issues down the line."
In other situations, you should be cautious if you spot an entry level role that requires three years of experience. "If a job is advertised as an entry level role, the hiring manager should not also require the candidates to have years of experience within a similar field. This is a sign they are actually looking for someone more senior, but don't want to pay the worker accordingly," Jana warned.
Moreover, "if you apply for a specific role with clear requirements of what you'll be working on and find out during the interview the role actually has a wide scope and covers lots of different areas of the business then it's a sign you will be overworked and underappreciated."
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