7 Red Flags To Look For In Employers

Are you currently looking for a job? Here are some employer red flags to keep an eye out for in the world of work.

When searching for a job, it can be hard to tell which employers have the best intentions, especially as a young person just starting out in the world of work.

Some red flags are easy to recognise and you can spot them right away, but some are harder to detect and you may not see them for what they are from the very start. Red flags can differ for each employer, so pay attention to the signs and use your instincts to make your decision.

Here are 7 red flags you could encounter during your job search.

1. The employer is vague about the position

If a company is vague about something from the start in the job description, the chances are that they are hiding something that they know isn’t truthful or desirable to applicants. Some examples could be that travelling time is longer than originally stated, or you are going to be given more responsibilities than your job role is worth. If salary relies on commission, then ask how many employees reach the top tier of commission – it may be really hard to reach a higher salary, and if they don’t tell you, then you know not many do.

The same goes in an interview – if you ask questions about the role and they say they don’t know the answer, they may not want to tell you the truth. If you ask about opportunities for promotion once you have built your skills and experience over time and you can’t get a straight answer, then perhaps it’s an opportunity where you can’t progress, even if you work hard to prove your worth. Employers should know all about the role they are recruiting for, and if they won’t provide you with answers, then they might be trying to hide something.

2. Look for buzzwords when applying

Some words may have a different meaning that you need to think about. For example, a ‘fast-paced’ environment could mean you will be overworked and a competitive salary that isn’t disclosed could mean they are trying to pay as low as they can compared to similar employers and roles. When you are first starting out, salaries are likely to increase over time as you build skills and experience – but you would still want to know what your starting salary will be, and that includes earn while you learn opportunities like apprenticeships.

3. Employers make promises without a formal agreement

Employers may mention in an interview that you will start on a low wage, and get more money later as you progress. This can certainly be true, but if they say they are making a promise to pay you more over time so that you’ll accept a job that pays less than expected, it is good to get that in writing.

4. Pay attention to how employers treat you and others

You may have heard stories of interviewers going undercover as receptionists to see how you treat the staff before your interview. This goes both ways – how do the staff treat you as a candidate and how to they treat each other? Do the employees seem happy in their job? Are the company rude to you or each other? Pay close attention to your surroundings and the atmosphere – these employees are representatives of the company.

How they treat you as a potential employee will most likely continue into your role. Do they treat you well during the hiring process? For example, if they don’t have good communication with you, they may not have good support for you when you are a part of the team either.

5. They ask inappropriate questions

There are some things that employers can’t ask you if it isn’t essential for your role e.g. orientation, religion, race, or your relationship status. If they ask you these questions in the application or in an interview, then they will likely use this to discriminate against you in the future.

6. There are no work-life boundaries

If you are expected to be available at all times, or you are asked if you are willing to put in the time to get things finished, they want to know if you are willing to work unpaid overtime and may demand it in the future. You need a work-life balance and if they seem like they may make unreasonable demands from you, especially outside of your working hours, then it’s an indicator of how much of your free time will be spent working, most likely for free. In apprenticeships, there should be a clear structure for work hours, training hours, and learning hours.

7. The hiring process is rushed

Some interview processes are long because employers want the best employee to fill the role they are paying them for. If it seems to be happening very quickly or you are offered a job on the spot, think about why. Are they desperate to fill the role because people leave faster than they can recruit? Are vacancies related to layoffs and is your job going to be secure? If they have high turnover, take the hint from previous employees – it may not be a great place to work. Then again, you may feel it’s great to get hired quickly and get something on your CV. The important thing is to give yourself a chance to think about the terms of the job and decide if it’s the right role for you before you accept.

Trust your instincts

This isn’t a complete list and some things can be taken either way – not all employers are out to exploit you. For example, the phrase ‘we are like a family here’ could mean they will use this to judge your behaviour towards them and they have no sense of boundaries, or it could just mean that everyone is genuinely friendly and they have a good sense of community. Use your judgement, listen to your instincts and don’t be afraid to take a step back to think through your decision.

To find out what to look for in a good employer, take a look at the 10 Signs Of A Good Quality Employer.