Why you must look out for warning signs when applying for a new job

Job hunters are being urged to spot “red flags” on job adverts and company websites when seeking new employment.

The business analysts at Suited-Insure, which provides business insurance for self-employed people, have compiled a list of the most common warning signs which could show a company is not all it seems to be.

A spokesman said: “Starting a new job and realising it’s not all it’s cracked up to be can be a deflating experience to deal with, but there may be some tell-tale signs in the job adverts themselves.“This is why the experts are offering advice on what to be wary of when seeking new employment to prevent people from being stuck in an unwanted role.“If a company calls itself a “family” or they offer an unlimited holiday allowance, there’s a chance they’re presenting a false narrative in an attempt to rope in new employees.”Jana Kejvalova, from Suited Insure said: “It’s difficult enough for many to find a job in the current economic climate as there is 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 offered is nothing like the job you have got.She added: “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.”

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Here are nine employer red flags to be wary of:Refer to themselves as a family

If you get through to the interview stage and find out the money you’ll earn is commission based without being previously warned about this, that is a definite red flag, according analysts.  (Photo by Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)If you get through to the interview stage and find out the money you’ll earn is commission based without being previously warned about this, that is a definite red flag, according analysts.  (Photo by Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
If you get through to the interview stage and find out the money you’ll earn is commission based without being previously warned about this, that is a definite red flag, according analysts. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

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, and there’s no good sugarcoating it to make everything appear flawless.

Don’t make you aware the work is commission based until post-interview

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.

A lack of workplace culture

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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 unhappy to be at the company.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.Ask highly personal questions at the interview

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. This means they could ask you to work beyond your office hours.Use standard holiday allowance as a perk

It’s great to have a standard holiday allowance, but if it’s represented as a perk and not a given requirement, then it’s not something worth bragging about.

Salary hesitancy

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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.Apply for one role, end up doing 10 people’s job

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.Entry level role but they need 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.