Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Signs You Don't Want The Job
By Dimitri A.C. Ly
You've heard it all before: When you have a job interview it's important to come on time, dress right and project a positive attitude. What people always seem to forget, however, is that it's crucial that you also use this opportunity to get a sense of your potential employer. After all, what good is an offer from a company you'd desperately want to leave after just a few days? The next time you embark on an interview for employment, make sure you watch for these signs you don't want the job.
1. The interview takes place off-site
Obviously, if you're applying for a field position abroad or in a different city, chances are the interview will have to occur in a public place. However, if the company has a local office and the interviewer still insists on meeting you at a bar or a restaurant, you should consider it one of the signs you don't want the job. Some employers resort to this practice when they're trying to hide something about the office environment, while others use the casual setting to make unethical deals, which is a strong indication of the kind of boss you'd get.
2. The interviewer is late or ill-prepared
Companies tend to treat candidates with more care than actual employees, so if a manager doesn't have time to conduct a proper interview, you can be sure that he or she won't have time to give you thorough training and regular feedback once you're hired. By the same token, if the interview keeps getting delayed, it usually means the company is undergoing massive changes and the job in the posting might not be the one you'd actually get. Worse, it may be an indication that the ship is sinking, thus making it one of the more alarming signs you don't want the job.
3. Interview conducted with other candidates present
Though this practice is often disguised as progressive management, a group interview is really just a way for lazy managers to save time by meeting several candidates at once. If employers can't even take their hiring policies seriously, don't expect them to treat the staff with any respect. Another reason this is one of the signs you don't want the job is that the process overlooks quiet, efficient workers in favor of loudmouths and braggarts. Just imagine the kind of office you'd be joining.
4. The interviewer competes with you
Even the most egomaniacal managers know not to insult potential employees during the selection process, but there are ways to recognize bad bosses even when they're on their best behavior: Candidates are expected to sell themselves during interviews, so whenever you say something positive about yourself, carefully observe the interviewer's reaction for signs you don't want the job. If the latter corrects you or responds by boasting about his or her own accomplishments, then you're dealing with an employer who's putting personal pride over finding the right candidate for the job. This should tell you all you need to know about the type of management you can expect from that company.
5. The interviewer complains
Though it's often considered an indication that you've nailed the interview, an employer sharing his or her frustrations about the office is another one of the signs you don't want the job. Don't be fooled by the illusion of complicity; a supervisor who badmouths the staff or former subordinates during the interview is likely to do the same to you once you're hired. Furthermore, if legitimate, these complaints might be the tip of the iceberg, in which case you'd be stepping into a work environment so toxic even the managers are fed up.
6. The interviewer asks inappropriate questions
Don't let your desire to impress the interviewer blind you to one of the most obvious signs you don't want the job: Even the most experienced interviewers will occasionally goof by inquiring about your personal life or confidential aspects of your current position. However, if it becomes a recurring theme, you may be looking at harassment down the line. When dealing with an inappropriate question, ask your potential employer to elaborate on his or her concerns. If the interview gets immediately back on track, then the faux pas was probably an innocent mistake. Note, however, that inquiries regarding sex, race and religion are never innocent.
7. Rewards of the job are overemphasized
Even when dealing with headhunters, interviews should always focus on job skills, office culture and career opportunities. Employers who neglect these topics in favor of boasting about company perks and high salaries indicate that they don't care what kind of candidate you are as long as you sign the contract, which is one of the major signs you don't want the job. Similarly, you should be wary of interviewers who pressure you to accept the position right away. Ask yourself: What is the company trying to hide, and why is it so desperate?
8. They request you work a trial day
The reason a trial day is considered one of the signs you don't want the job is that the practice doesn't make much sense. It usually takes at least a week to fully train a new employee, so it seems absurd to let candidates who haven't even committed to the company interact with clients and affect production for only one day. If the objective is to protect the office from bad hires, the employer should simply impose a probation period. Trial days are indicative of either poor management or a dead-end job. In the sales sector, they're even associated with pyramid schemes.
pay attention to the signs
These signs you don't want the job will help you steer clear of bad bosses, toxic office environments and dead-end career paths. However, the best way to learn about your potential employer is to ask questions about the position and the office culture during the interview. This has the benefit of showing that you're interested but not desperate. More importantly, though, you may save yourself a lot of grief by uncovering important issues before you commit to the company.
You've heard it all before: When you have a job interview it's important to come on time, dress right and project a positive attitude. What people always seem to forget, however, is that it's crucial that you also use this opportunity to get a sense of your potential employer. After all, what good is an offer from a company you'd desperately want to leave after just a few days? The next time you embark on an interview for employment, make sure you watch for these signs you don't want the job.
1. The interview takes place off-site
Obviously, if you're applying for a field position abroad or in a different city, chances are the interview will have to occur in a public place. However, if the company has a local office and the interviewer still insists on meeting you at a bar or a restaurant, you should consider it one of the signs you don't want the job. Some employers resort to this practice when they're trying to hide something about the office environment, while others use the casual setting to make unethical deals, which is a strong indication of the kind of boss you'd get.
2. The interviewer is late or ill-prepared
Companies tend to treat candidates with more care than actual employees, so if a manager doesn't have time to conduct a proper interview, you can be sure that he or she won't have time to give you thorough training and regular feedback once you're hired. By the same token, if the interview keeps getting delayed, it usually means the company is undergoing massive changes and the job in the posting might not be the one you'd actually get. Worse, it may be an indication that the ship is sinking, thus making it one of the more alarming signs you don't want the job.
3. Interview conducted with other candidates present
Though this practice is often disguised as progressive management, a group interview is really just a way for lazy managers to save time by meeting several candidates at once. If employers can't even take their hiring policies seriously, don't expect them to treat the staff with any respect. Another reason this is one of the signs you don't want the job is that the process overlooks quiet, efficient workers in favor of loudmouths and braggarts. Just imagine the kind of office you'd be joining.
4. The interviewer competes with you
Even the most egomaniacal managers know not to insult potential employees during the selection process, but there are ways to recognize bad bosses even when they're on their best behavior: Candidates are expected to sell themselves during interviews, so whenever you say something positive about yourself, carefully observe the interviewer's reaction for signs you don't want the job. If the latter corrects you or responds by boasting about his or her own accomplishments, then you're dealing with an employer who's putting personal pride over finding the right candidate for the job. This should tell you all you need to know about the type of management you can expect from that company.
5. The interviewer complains
Though it's often considered an indication that you've nailed the interview, an employer sharing his or her frustrations about the office is another one of the signs you don't want the job. Don't be fooled by the illusion of complicity; a supervisor who badmouths the staff or former subordinates during the interview is likely to do the same to you once you're hired. Furthermore, if legitimate, these complaints might be the tip of the iceberg, in which case you'd be stepping into a work environment so toxic even the managers are fed up.
6. The interviewer asks inappropriate questions
Don't let your desire to impress the interviewer blind you to one of the most obvious signs you don't want the job: Even the most experienced interviewers will occasionally goof by inquiring about your personal life or confidential aspects of your current position. However, if it becomes a recurring theme, you may be looking at harassment down the line. When dealing with an inappropriate question, ask your potential employer to elaborate on his or her concerns. If the interview gets immediately back on track, then the faux pas was probably an innocent mistake. Note, however, that inquiries regarding sex, race and religion are never innocent.
7. Rewards of the job are overemphasized
Even when dealing with headhunters, interviews should always focus on job skills, office culture and career opportunities. Employers who neglect these topics in favor of boasting about company perks and high salaries indicate that they don't care what kind of candidate you are as long as you sign the contract, which is one of the major signs you don't want the job. Similarly, you should be wary of interviewers who pressure you to accept the position right away. Ask yourself: What is the company trying to hide, and why is it so desperate?
8. They request you work a trial day
The reason a trial day is considered one of the signs you don't want the job is that the practice doesn't make much sense. It usually takes at least a week to fully train a new employee, so it seems absurd to let candidates who haven't even committed to the company interact with clients and affect production for only one day. If the objective is to protect the office from bad hires, the employer should simply impose a probation period. Trial days are indicative of either poor management or a dead-end job. In the sales sector, they're even associated with pyramid schemes.
pay attention to the signs
These signs you don't want the job will help you steer clear of bad bosses, toxic office environments and dead-end career paths. However, the best way to learn about your potential employer is to ask questions about the position and the office culture during the interview. This has the benefit of showing that you're interested but not desperate. More importantly, though, you may save yourself a lot of grief by uncovering important issues before you commit to the company.
Labels: Come Grow With Me
