How to Avoid Working at the Wrong Company

There’s no perfect company, there’s no perfect employee. It’s unlikely you’ll like everything about the company you’re interviewing with, but that’s a big difference from a red flag.

What's a red flag?

It’s when you realize that the company you’re interested in doesn’t operate in a way that aligns with how you live. If you move forward with a company that doesn’t operate similarly to how you do, you’ll probably be miserable in your position. The thing about MOST red flags is that they’re created based on a result of what you want in life. What may be a red flag for you might excite the heck out of me. Here are some things for you to personally ask yourself when you’re interviewing with a company to determine if they’re a “cultural fit” for YOU. 

Do you like how you’re being treated in the interview process? 

• Yes there are jerks who are bad at their job, but if it’s the HR team, you might be in for a rough time if you sign that offer letter. A company that doesn’t have a welcoming and excited HR team might be a red flag of a BAD TEAM. Are they understanding of your personal life ie - needing to reschedule because of an emergency, etc.)? Have they done anything that makes you feel uncomfortable? Make note of all those things and determine if it’s a PERSON thing, or a company norm. 

Do you like what you're reading about the company?

• Glassdoor is a great resource, but not helpful for everyone making their decision. Read the pros and cons of the company. 

Do you like how other people at the company are being treated?

• Does this company treat its employees the way you would?
• Is the way the company rewards its employees something that motivates you?
• Do you align with the time when people come in and leave work?
• Do you like what your potential boss communicates about and how they communicate it?
• If not, can you work in this environment every day? Probably not. 

How open has the company been with you?

• I can’t think of any reason this isn’t a red flag… if the company hides, misrepresents, or doesn’t take time to share information with you, they’re hiding something. A company can’t always share everything, but if they’re hiding things from you that would impact your decision to take the job, try to figure out why. It might make things hard for you down the line; you might find yourself sharing your resume around a few short months later.  

What are some red flags you’ve heard of or experienced? Please share in the comments below. Thanks to Brittany Murillo for having such a wonderful conversation with me, she is the inspiration behind this article!