Statistics say that we give about a third of our lives to work. It's great if the reward for your time and effort is not only good pay, but also positive emotions. From communication with colleagues and bosses, working conditions, the office environment and all other aspects of the career. To avoid wasting time on an unsuitable job, remember the main signs that the company does not value its employees or candidates.
1- Avoiding specifics.
Even if you're promised a mountain of gold, don't rush into a job. Recruiters sometimes describe everything beautifully, but don't give specific answers to simple questions. Wonderful conditions, large sums of money, amazing atmosphere - it's all uninformative. You have to get a clear idea of how you will work and how much you will get for it.
- Obtrusive advertising of the vacancy.
If you're being persuaded to give an answer right here and now so you don't miss out on such a unique and amazing chance, it's a reason to wonder. Are you really that good and have wowed an HR person so much that they now see you exclusively in the position? Or maybe there aren't that many applicants for the position and they're trying to talk someone into it?
- Delaying your answer.
A serious company is always determined to give every candidate at least minimal feedback, no matter how many there are for one position. Also, its employees will always be polite and friendly. If it takes you a long time to get an answer on your resume or after the interview, and when the answer does come, its tone leaves a lot to be desired - do not waste your time on this company.
- Interviews that are too short
Few people dream of having a long interview before they are hired. But a job interview that is too short doesn't bode well. The interviewer has to do a lot of checking to see if the applicant is a good fit. He should also answer all the questions of the applicant. If they talked to you for five minutes, it means they have already chosen another candidate. Or, alternatively, they want to avoid uncomfortable questions. After all, they know that you will not like the answers.
- Interview at an atypical place
If the employer wants to hide from the staff that they are considering new candidates for some reason, they will offer to interview outside the office. It could be a restaurant, a park, any other public place. Or you may be called in at unusual times: early in the morning, late in the evening, on a day off. We advise you not to agree to such a proposal. First, this way you will not be able to appreciate the working atmosphere (why this is important, we will tell below). Secondly, if the head is looking for a replacement for a person who does not yet know about his dismissal, it already says a lot about the methods of management in this organization.
- An oppressive manner of management
No matter what anyone says, a lot depends on the boss. If he personally undermines the motivation of employees, humiliates them, violates the labor code, comes up with a strange, biased system of rewards and punishments - all this affects the effectiveness of work in a very negative way. Agree, when your lot depends entirely on the mood of a despotic man - it's a dubious prospect.
- An overabundance of applicants
A long line at the headhunter's office is a signal that the company has certain staffing problems. For some reason, headhunters can not find someone willing to work in the position, and they immediately invite all potentially suitable candidates.
- A great deal of attention to your personal life.
Your orientation, plans for children, religion, illness, and financial situation should not be of interest to the hiring manager. Anything that can't directly affect job performance, management doesn't need to know. Explain that by refusing to answer such questions. If the personnel manager insists, it shows his unprofessionalism. Today such questions are not only considered inappropriate, but even prohibited in some countries due to the prevalence of discrimination.
- Ambiguous wording.
The requirements to the applicant can be formulated quite vaguely. If the company is looking for someone who is willing to be flexible, responsible or dedicated, there is a risk that it simply needs an employee who can be kept working late. Thus, the ability to work in a team can imply a lack of career progression, and stress tolerance - the fact that the boss likes to take it out on his subordinates. Of course, by themselves, such requirements in the ad does not necessarily indicate a bad thing. But there is a good chance that you will notice at least one more of these signals during your interview at this firm.
- Minimum or no requirements to the candidate
An announcement in the vein of "We will take anyone to work" is a signal that no one should try their hand at this company. Usually any candidate is ready to consider either a manager without the slightest experience, or scammers. The latter, as we have already noted, are trying to get more people to agree to their terms. And it could be any dubious activity, from the distribution of banned products to pyramid schemes.
An unpleasant, tense atmosphere in the office.
We do not think it is worth mentioning that reputable companies will not rent semi-basement premises without identifying signs. And that they always try to furnish the space with more or less decent furniture and equipment. In short, pay attention to exterior attributes.
But also be attentive to the atmosphere in the office. How employees seem happy with each other and work, friendly, tidy and balanced. After all, you do not want to work in one firm with inadequate or negative personalities. Or where the management is simply bullying their subordinates.
- the tests that are not related to the position
A test assignment is quite acceptable in the hiring process. But it should not be too big and, especially, strange. All kinds of psychological tests, logic problems and other tasks that do not show your level of competence in a particular area, can be just a way to stall for time, to create the appearance. In reality, no one is seriously considering your candidacy, or the human resources department simply does not have the experience to work with applicants. Be careful, too, with a test job that looks like a full-time job (like coming up with an advertising slogan). Especially when communicating online with a potential hire. There's a risk that they're not going to hire you, just want to get free services.
- Lack of comfort.
A striking example is the parking lot. If it is all filled up with cars of the management, and ordinary employees have nowhere to park their cars, it means that the management does not think much about the subordinates. In general, the office should have comfortable areas for work and rest, hygiene needs, as well as enough space for everyone.
If during an interview or a tour of the office you notice any of these signs, think twice about whether the tempting offer is worth the risk.