Looking for a new job comes with many unknowns, and those go beyond wondering if you’ll personally do well on that job interview. Even if you do get the job, how do you know whether or not you’ll actually like it?
According to the 2022 Society of Human Resources Management Global Report 2022, 51% of US and 50% of UK employees have considered leaving their jobs in recent times. Out of this, 90% report their workplace culture as being poor. This study also found that 20% of workers who actually did quit during their careers did it because they were in a toxic workplace.
Many might argue that on the first day of work, it is impossible to know if a toxic work environment is present or not.
Yet, the question arises, is it possible to catch toxic workplace signs before it is too late? The answer is yes.
Even on the day of the interview!
Job Interview Red Flags — Potential Toxic Workplace Signs
Job burnout is on the rise, and sadly one of the leading causes is toxic workplace environments and cultures. The good news is that if you know what to look for, there may be signs that you can spot BEFORE you get in too deep. This means knowing how to spot signs during the interview that may indicate you’d be better off moving on to the next opportunity.
Here are some job interview warning signs of a toxic workplace to watch for.
Poor Management
How a company sets up your interview tells a lot about its work culture. It can either tell how efficient the management is, or how irresponsible it might turn out to be.
The former involves clear communication about the time and place of the interview, leaving no room for doubt. That too while taking both parties into consideration. The latter, however, involves information that is vague, confusing, and unreliable for the interviewee to follow.
After all, for someone who cannot finalize an interview date, leading a team might be too much.
Lack of Clarity
One of the aims of a job interview is to learn about the workplace and its expectations. The interviewer goes through the job description in detail and explains one’s responsibilities. This allows the candidate to see if they will be a good fit for the role.
If that is not happening, it might be a bad sign. Lack of clarity in communicating work expectations leads to confusion. Frustration as well. More often than not, it points towards a work culture that does not allow personal boundaries. Along with that, it also keeps the interviewee in the dark regarding what will be required of them.
The most common examples of this include being unclear about the:
- Pay scale
- Work timing
- Job description
- Overtime compensation
- Benefits such as retirement funds
Avoidance
If your interviewer avoids your questions and concerns, that is a major red flag.
As a potential employee, one has the right to put forth their own work expectations as well. This includes negotiating a suitable pay range, asking about the company’s work culture, inquiring about employers, and even the turnover rate.
If an interviewer avoids answering, it means they have something to hide. Rather, something you would not like. In short, they are not being truthful.
Showcasing Disrespect
According to MIT Sloan Management Review, disrespect in the workplace is the highest determinant of employees rating their workplace as being negative in nature.
It is possible that an interviewer might not agree with what you are saying. And that is okay. However, if they start shooting comments that are degrading, it is time to run away.
Such instances of disrespect include:
- Asking irrelevant questions
- Gaslighting the interviewee
- Evading comments and queries
- Microaggression toward one’s gender, race, sexual orientation, or religion
More often than not, it is the supervisor who interviews potential employees. This gives the interviewee a chance to see who they will be reporting to. In case the supervisor is prone to being disrespectful towards their employer, co-workers, or staff, chances are they will do the same for you.
Why Are These Interview Red Flags Important?
The answer is simple: to not get into a mess.
For that, being aware of certain toxic workplace signs is crucial.
Toxic workplaces can end up having a big impact on one’s psychological and physical well-being. Though symptoms start with something small, stress-induced ailments do not take much time to manifest. Once they come into the picture, it is a matter of time before the stress leads to complete burnout.
The prevalence of such symptoms increases with the time spent in a toxic workplace. Hence, to save yourself from these detrimental effects, it is important to take the red flags for what they are.
How To Decide If A Job Offer Is Right For You?
If you have made it through the interview, congratulations!
Either there were little to no red flags present, or, too many to count. For the latter, it might be wise to tread carefully.
The next step is to know how to evaluate your job offer. Certain tips to evaluate your job offer help in this regard. And remember, if you decide to decline a job offer for some reason, make it professionally!
Assess the Contract
Though legal contracts are known for their ambiguous nature, clarity is important.
You should make sure that the job offer clarifies all aspects of your job description, benefits, and pay grade as well. Along with company rules and regulations. If this is not done, chances are that your potential workplace wants to keep you in the dark.
Negotiate Where Needed
A workplace invests money in its employees. However, it is the employees who invest their skills, time, effort, and qualifications in their chosen place of work. It is only fair for negotiation to be allowed and heard before one makes a decision.
This helps both parties to be transparent and put forth their expectations towards each other so that a middle ground may be found.
It also helps to see how open to suggestions a certain workplace is. The more they stop you from negotiating, the more control they want. Unless it genuinely cannot be accommodated.
Assess Yourself
Before becoming a part of a workplace, it is important to know if you are a good fit for the position. This means knowing if your personality and values match those of the company that has offered you a job.
As an example, let us say that there is a job that requires constant traveling. For a person with no added responsibilities, the task is easy. Yet, for one who has to manage many commitments as well as another job, not so much.
Hence, it is important to know if your personal boundaries, values, and future goals allow you to take up the offer. This helps to make a clearer decision that proves to be a stable one for the long term.
You may want to take our Career Interest Assessment to see if the job is actually a fit for your personality.
Growth Opportunities
Most people don’t like changing jobs because they feel stagnant or aren’t getting what they need. The one that sticks gives one a reason to stay.
It is always important to consider how many opportunities for growth and development your new workplace is willing to offer. Some questions to ask in this regard might be:
- Will I gain experience?
- Are their monetary benefits?
- Are there promotion opportunities?
- Are their health and well-being programs?
- Does the workplace provide training workshops to employees?
Look Out On The First Day for Signs of Toxic Workplace
You get to really know about a workplace after you get hired. It sets the tone for all that is to come.
Once you interact with your co-workers and employers, you get a sense of the kind of work culture that is present. In case it is a toxic one, there are some signs you could look out for.
- A poor welcome for the new hire
- Job requirements differing from what was communicated
- Absence of any long-term employee
- Lack of respect among professionals
- Presence of gossip cliques
- Unethical or discriminatory behavior
For more information about hostile and toxic workplaces, we’ve put together a guide to help you decide whether taking the job may not have been the right choice after all.
In The End, Trust Your Gut
Committing to a workplace is not an easy decision. It takes a lot of time and consideration, especially when one is trying to establish a stable source of income in exchange for one's skills and work ethic.
Hence, if certain things seem disruptive to one’s peace of mind, it is important to address them. That, too, while being aware of any possible toxic workplace signs. Particularly when they come up as first-day or job interview red flags.
After all, you should always know how to decide if a job is right for you. One that keeps you happy, too.
To help you better evaluate both the job interview and any potential job offers, we’ve put together a handy post-interview questionnaire. You can get it free in our member’s area!
