4 signs of a bad company to work for

Hopefully you’re fully content in your current position, but if you’ve been shopping around for a new job, here are some signs of a bad company to work for. If any of these sound familiar, you may want to look elsewhere.

The interview process is a joke: An interview process should be thorough, but it should also be smooth. The process shouldn’t take months, even if you have to go through multiple rounds of interviews. If there are communication issues while trying to keep tabs on how things are going, then the company obviously isn’t making you a priority. If they’re not appreciating you now, it’s not going to get any better after you go to work for them.

You don’t like what you’re seeing: If you’re having to wait for an interview to begin, use that as an opportunity to take a peek around. Excuse yourself to the bathroom and take in everything you see on your way. What’s the office environment like? Open office? Cubicles? What kind of vibe are you getting from the employees? Do they look happy to be there? Do they look overworked and stressed? A quick look may tell you a lot about the company before you’ve even had the chance to ask any questions.

You’re not alone in the waiting area: While competition for a job is normal, a large number of candidates could also signal a high turnover problem. If employees aren’t staying very long with a company, this could be a huge sign that this company isn’t a place where you want to go to work every day. Casually ask how many candidates are going to be hired, and unless the company is going through a period of growth, you may want to be cautious before accepting a position.

You’re not sure what you’ll be doing: The last thing you want is vague instruction. Before arriving for you first day at a new job, you want to fully grasp every one of your responsibilities and understand what success will look like. You may find it hard to grow in your career if you never know exactly what it is that you’re supposed to be doing.