Signs the Job Youre Applying for Will Be a Nightmare

Signs the Job Youre Applying for Will Be a NightmareSigns the Job Youre Applying for Will Be a NightmareTheres no guarantee during the interview and application process that youll land a job that fulfills your every need, from salary requirements to fulfilling day-to-day responsibilities. But theres a wide gap between a job thats not quite perfect and one thats an utter nightmare. No one wants a nightmare job. A truly terrible job is more than just a badeanstalt fit - it saps confidence and energy, leaving you frantic for an exit plan. With some jobs, it can be a question of personality and skills. If youre an introvert, for instance, and the job requires attending nightly social events to drive sales, you may never feel comfortable, successful, or happy. Other times, a bad job can be a matter of a negative, undercutting manager, a company in financial trouble, or many other factors. 6 Signs That a Job Will Be a Nightmare If youll lucky, youll never have a role like this during your career. To help increase your luck, keep an eye out for these clues during the interview process that you could be headed to a nightmare job. 1. The Interview Process Is Deeply Disorganized If you have to interview with several executives, its understandable if meetings sometimes need to get moved. Still, ifeveryinterview is rescheduled, or if people are consistently late or unprepared when they meet with you, thats a bad sign. Take note if email responses are always slow or if people are rude in their communications. Just think If the company is this disorganized during the interview process when they are trying to make a good impression, what will it be like when youre employed with the company? 2. You Hear Complaints and People Look Unhappy Its a good idea tocheck on Glassdoorfor employee reviews during the interview process. If theres a theme to the feedback about the company, consider asking your interviewer if the company is aware of the issue, and if theyre addre ssing it. Of course, its easy for zugnglich reviews- particularly semi-anonymous ones- to be negative. So, as well as checking for online impressions, listen during your interview to what people say about the company. Ask potential peers, Whats the company culture like here? Keep an ear out for complaints (particularly ones you hear over and over again). As well, look around the office on your way into the interview to get a sense of the vibe. Is there someone choking back tears in a corner? Can you overhear a conversation, because someones voice is raised? Do the signs in the bathroom seem weirdly accusatory or angry? Maybe people are just having a bad day, but this could also be a clue that morale is low and employees are unhappy. 3. Interviewers Give a Really Hard Sell Its flattering to be wanted. But theres a big difference between an interviewer saying, You seem like a good fit and offering you the job. Be skeptical of on-the-spot job offers Unless the company is very smal l, its odd for there not to be some sort of internal conversation that takes place before a job offer. This could be a sign that the company is a little too desperate and needy (or it could be that they know if they give you time to research the company, you wont turn up anything good). Another thing to watch for? A manager that just doesnt seem compatible with your work style. If your interviewer is disparaging about other employees, for instance, and you know you respond best to thoughtful critiques and cooperative team atmospheres, you may struggle to connect or form a positive working relationship. 4. The Negotiation Process Feels Like Its Happening With an Enemy Everyone wants a deal but if a company offers below-market wages for no reason is a bad sign. Why play such excessive hardball? Will you ever get a raise, or will the company always be stingy? While its natural for candidates to seek the highest possible salary and benefits, and for employers to offer the lowest pos sible amount, the amount the employer offers should still be reasonable. And, ideally, throughout thejob negotiations, you should feel on the same page as a potential employer, and as though youre working toward achieving a resolution that works for both of you. 5. You Just Cant Figure out What Youll Be Responsible For One interviewer tells you that youll need to manage four employees. Another one says you wont have any management responsibilities. Which is it? If its unclear what youll be doing in the role, or if you cant get a consistent response from interviewers, keep asking until you can find out a solid answer. And, if you still cant tell, consider withdrawing your candidacy. Even for a new company or start-up, there should be some clarity about your responsibilities. Otherwise, how can you- or your managerknow if youre performing well? Bottom line the job description for the position should be clear, and the way people describe the role should mirror it. Your interviewers should also be able to share details about perks and benefits, and career advancement at the company. 6. High Turnover Its natural for people to move in and out of companies. These days, few people stay with a single company long enough to get a gold watch upon retirement. But, sometimes a company will have a near-exodus. That could be nothing- or it could indicate poor management, a company without a profitable future, or any number of problems. One way to get insight can be to inquire about your predecessor. There are all sorts of reasons the person in the role might have left, but the interviewers response may be revealing.