Pay Attention to the Red Flags

Pay Attention to the Red Flags Being offered a job is a terrific feeling, especially if you have been searching for awhile.   It is flattering to know that a company selected you from all the other candidates.   But before you scream Yes, Ill take it! , be sure you havent overlooked some red flags that could lead to future trouble. Usually hind-sight is 20-20.   If youve ever gotten yourself into trouble or a bad situation, and you look back, you can see where things went wrong.   As you investigate a new employer, make sure you are keeping notes on your gut instincts.   By no means am I suggesting you stop the interview process or turn down a job for a single reason.   What you are looking for is a pattern or several reasons that make you ask yourself questions about whether or not this is a good decision.   There is no absolute right or wrong. Researching the Company: Is the company family-owned? What is the financial status of the company? What do current and ex-employees say about the company? What do you know about the Hiring Manager? Where did they come from?   What is their management style? What do other people know about him/her? What is the company culture like? Interviewing Process: Did they do a thorough job screening you prior to calling you in? Did they ask awkward or unusual questions during the interview? How many people did you meet in the company? Were the answers they gave to your questions in sync with one another? Did they stop and start the interview process? Why did they do this? What has happened in the company to create this opening? Is there a job description? Job Offer/Negotiations: Did they offer you  the job on the spot? Were they rigid in their inability to negotiate? How are they going to handle your on-boarding or orientation into the company? What will your first few weeks on the job look like? Did you get your offer in writing?   Was it what you had discussed? Even evaluating all these things and being in tune with your instincts wont protect you from every situation.  Once you are inside, things can begin to look different.   If you have been told something, hold people accountable for delivering what theyve said.   We hate conflict,  especially when we are the new kid on the block and  just beginning to get the lay of the land.   However, having heart to heart conversations with  your new hiring manager will be critical to your success.      Continue to pay attention and look for red flags.