How To Spot Job Search and Interview Red Flags

A positive working environment can help minimize the stress you feel both at home and at work, and maximize your engagement with your clients, company, and career. Working in environments where you are happy and less stressed increases your productivity, helps you achieve career goals, and improves your psychological and physical health.

Toxic working environments, on the other hand, can lower a person’s overall quality of life. Work-related stress is linked to increased risks of anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and even physical injuries. Stressful working conditions can also make people feel demotivated both in their job and their career—according to the American Psychological Association, people who felt stressed out at work were more than three times as likely to be looking for new employment.

Learning to spot red flags early in the interview process can help you avoid potentially bad work environments. In this article, we discuss many of the red flags to watch out for, and how to avoid them.

Understanding red flags in work environments

When you're reading a job description or interviewing with a company, you can find signs early on of the work environment and whether it’s engaging or toxic. Learning to quickly spot these red flags can help you find work in which you feel supported and that you’re achieving your career goals.

All companies are not created equal. Work cultures and leadership styles can greatly affect the employee experience. Warning signs like high employee turnover and negative company reviews online signal that the work environment may be problematic. If you're deciding between two jobs or whether or not to accept an offer, look for red flags and research the company's reputation online.

Red flags of potentially bad work environments include:

• Unclear expectations
• Poor communication
• Strict hierarchy
• Excessive overtime
• Micromanagement
• Unhealthy competition
• Ineffective leadership
• Undervalued employees
• Low pay
• Unhealthy work-life balance
• Lack of benefits and work perks

Ignoring red flags in the interview process can land you in a work environment that isn't conducive to growth and job satisfaction. Accepting a high-stress job or one that isn't fulfilling puts you at risk for burnout.

Identifying red flags in job listings

The first red flags might pop up in the job listing. Certain phrases like "fast-paced environment," "hustle culture," and "startup environment" can indicate long hours and poor work-life balance. You may need to read between the lines and use the job listing to decode what the role requires and what the company is like to work for.

Note that these red flags don’t necessarily mean they are bad companies to work for. It may be that they’re being upfront about their needs, and offer benefits that offset their demands. If you spot any red flags, research the company's reputation and read past-employee reviews on Glassdoor or Comparably.

Tip: If you're freelancing on Upwork, you can see client reviews from other freelancers in the "Client's recent history" section of the job post. This can help you decide if this is the type of client you want to work with before you submit a proposal.

Below we discuss some of the red flags you should be on the lookout for as you read job listings.

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Signs of vague or misleading job descriptions

Job descriptions should be clear, and clearly list the duties relevant to position. As a job seeker, you need to know what the role requires so you can determine if it's something you want to do and have the skills for.

A lack of detail or clarity can indicate the company doesn't know what they need and is disorganized. Too much detail, on the other hand, can signal the company is trying to combine many different roles into one.

The job description should also match the job title. Be wary of title deflation. When a job’s responsibilities are significant, or the work requires substantial experience and skill, the title should reflect that. It’s a major red flag if a company has devalued a role’s title, relative to its duties.

High turnover rates or repeatedly hiring for the same position

When companies have low turnover rates, this is often a sign of positive work environment. However, some industries, like hospital or food service, are known for being stressful and tend to have higher turnover rates across the board. If a specific company has a reputation for relatively low retention in its industry—this is a big red flag.

Finding the turnover rate for a company you're interested in may be difficult. They don’t typically advertise this information, especially if it's high. Some publicly traded companies in the U.S. may have to legally disclose turnover rates, but the data may be still hard to find. You can research online to see if you can uncover the actual numbers. Reading employee reviews on sites like Glassdoor and Comparably can give you insight into why employees are leaving or left in the past.

Keep your eye out for companies reposting the same position. If a company is constantly hiring for a role, that could mean that the offers are low, a poor employee onboarding experience, or that candidates quickly quit after starting. You can ask the hiring manager or recruiter how long most people stay with the company if you feel comfortable or have concerns.  

Unusually high or low salary ranges

Depending on the company and location, the role may have a salary range posted on the job listing. Some states and countries have pay transparency laws that require companies to add the salary range when posting a job.

You may not learn about the salary until you meet with the hiring manager or the recruiter. They may ask what your salary requirements are before telling you the budget for the role. Always research the industry, company, and job title to see the average salary for similar positions based on the location and your experience and education.

If the salary is significantly above or below what is considered normal for the position, this can be a red flag. When the salary is questionably high, the company may be trying to attract candidates and get them in for an interview. This may be a possible salary, taking hard-to-achieve commissions and bonuses into consideration, while the actual base salary is much lower.

The job posting may be fake and just a way to capture contact information. Companies can try to bait-and-switch candidates by getting them to apply for one position that sounds great but doesn't exist, and then sell them on another position that pays much less.

When a role's salary is below the average, this can mean that the company doesn't compensate its employees fairly or has financial trouble. You want to make sure you're being paid what you're worth. Fair pay is an important aspect of a healthy work environment and shows that the company values its employees.

Absence of clear information about roles and responsibilities

Before applying for a role, you should have a clear idea of the responsibilities and requirements. Companies with green flags put this in the job description. If you don't see this information, it can be a sign that the company isn't sure what they want or the job isn't what it seems. The hiring manager should be able to explain the role and its responsibilities and outline these in the job description to find the best talent.

Phases like "and other duties or responsibilities" are often a red flag. This can be a catch-all term that companies can use to justify adding on tasks and work without increasing pay. The company or manager may try to keep assigning work that is outside of the job scope down the road.

As an employee, it's hard to succeed if you don't have a clearly defined role with short- and long-term goals. Disorganization and poor management can make it difficult to advance your career.

Detecting red flags in the company's online presence

A quick Google search can tell you a lot about a potential employer, from their legitimacy to their reputation. If a job posting or company is fake, running them through a search engine will save you time. Take a look at their online presence—what they say about themselves in their messaging and how this compares to what past employees have to say.

Make sure the company has up-to-date information online—this will help establish if they're legitimate or not. Companies that don't have social media or a current website may not be remote-friendly or flexible. The business may be more traditional and not use newer technologies.

The company's branding should be consistent and up-to-date across all platforms, from its website to social media channels. Unclear or disconnected messaging can be a warning sign that the company has a leadership problem and may be challenging to work for. This may also be a sign of growth or change, but could indicate deeper issues within the business.

Pay attention to what other employees have to say online. Keep in mind that these may be the most negative reviews from employees who quit or were fired, but you can look out for any reoccurring themes like work-life balance and salary complaints. Make a note of any recent layoffs and other news about the company.

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Recognizing red flags during the interview process

Once you start interviewing with a company, you want to pay attention to red flags from the hiring manager, recruiter, and anyone else you meet with. Have questions ready to help determine if it's the type of work environment you want to be in. This is when you start to see how the company treats its employees.

When you ask questions about the work culture and expectations for the role, notice whether or not you get straight answers, as well as the interviewer's body language. If the interviewer tries to deflect or looks uncomfortable, this is a red flag. Employees should want to talk about the company and share their positive experiences with it.

Hiring managers who make negative comments about their current and past employees may be difficult to work for and lack accountability. You can ask why they're hiring for the role to find out if someone quit or if the role is new. When managers gossip or talk badly about past employees, it can signify a toxic work environment and company culture.

You shouldn't feel rushed to accept the position during the interview process. Generally, hiring managers will give you two to three days to accept, decline, or negotiate once you have an offer. If they pressure you to make a decision quickly, this may be a warning sign. The company may want you to rush the decision so you don't negotiate and ignore the red flags.

The recruiter should let you know what the next steps are in the hiring process. A lack of clarity can mean the company is disorganized or that filling the role isn't a high priority. A standard interview process is a phone screening, followed by three or four rounds of interviews, possibly a presentation or panel interview, and then an on-site (if the previous interviews were virtual and the work requires you to be in-person).  

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Spotting red flags in the company culture

During the interview process, you want to learn as much as possible about the company culture—including what working there is actually like. You want to know early on if the company has unrealistic workload expectations or doesn’t allow work-life balance. Company cultures can be very different and greatly impact your stress levels and overall job satisfaction and quality of life. You can often spot these red flags during the interview by asking the right questions.

Here are some examples of the types of questions you can ask hiring managers to learn more about the company culture:

• What do employees say the best part of working here is?
• How does the company support employee professional development?
• What type of personality types do best here?
• How does the company celebrate success?
• What is your management style?
• What does work-life balance look like here?
• How would you describe the company culture?

Employees who work in positive company cultures are more engaged and invested in their roles. Happy people are 12% more productive. When employees are dissatisfied and have limited opportunities for personal development, they may be looking for other jobs and be less invested in the company.

Green flags to look for that signal a positive company culture include:

• Transparency and accountability
• Clear communication channels
• Fair and competitive compensation
• Involvement in charities or local community
• Diverse workforce
• Employee benefits
• Opportunities for growth
• Company values that align with your own
• Generous time-off policies
• Flexible hours and remote working options
• Employee development opportunities

Red flags during the probation period

When starting a new job, you typically have a 90-day probation period to train and figure out if the job is a good fit. During this time, you may have lower pay and may not have full benefits. Probation periods can vary from company to company; some may be just a few weeks.

During the probation period, be on the lookout for red flags. If the job isn't what you expected, you want to find out as quickly as possible. During your first few days and even weeks, you should have training and support to get up-to-speed and feel welcomed into the company. A lack of employee onboarding is a warning sign.

Onboarding often sets the tone for what it is like to work for a company. If you don't have a positive and helpful onboarding experience, it could mean the company doesn't have great communication, organization, or value for its employees. Onboarding helps employees feel 18x more committed to their employers, according to BambooHR.

When you meet with your manager and team, be on the lookout for any inconsistencies between the job description and actual responsibilities. Make sure your pay, benefits, and work hours are what you agreed to. Ideally, when you accept an offer, you have all of the details in writing, from benefits to pay, in case anything changes when you start.

Tip: On Upwork, companies can find freelancers that they may want to hire as full-time employees and set up a shorter contract to test out the relationship through temp-to-hire. It's a great way to see if you want to work for a client or company before committing to a full-time employment contract.

Safeguard your career from bad work environments

A full-time job is typically 40 hours per week, depending on the company and where you live. In a positive work environment, you feel motivated to go to work and while you may have some stressful days, you are overall satisfied with what you do. The stress from working in a bad environment for eight or more hours a day can build up and start affecting your mental and physical health, as well as your personal life.

Work stress can lead to negative side effects like the following:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Difficulting sleeping
• Lower productivity
• Trouble concentrating
• Fatigue
• Stomach aches

Sometimes, you may need to take the first offer you get to make ends meet. When you have the time and resources to research, ask the right questions, and evaluate whether a job is the right fit for you, it can help you avoid a negative situation. Always listen to your instincts when something feels off. You may unconsciously notice red flags before you can make the connection.

Careers and work take up a big part of your week, and you should protect yourself from situations that will cause you unnecessary stress. You deserve a job that fulfills you, where you feel valued and fairly paid.

Leverage resources for job searches

The first step in finding a job that you enjoy is the search. Set aside time to look for open positions on popular job search sites. Read the job descriptions and research the company, being on the lookout for any red flags and warning signs. Putting in that work now can help prevent you from getting into an unsustainable situation that causes stress.

If you're unsure what type of job you want or have an idea but don't feel qualified yet, you can get help from freelance career counselors on Upwork. These experts can guide you through the job hunt, assist with your resume, cover letter, and applications, and provide career coaching. Together, you can map out your career path and the steps you need to take.

Networking with other professionals in your industry is a great way to learn about new job openings and company reputations. You can ask these colleagues about different companies and what they're like to work for, as they may have better insight and information that you can't find online. If their company has a job opening, you may be able to get a referral to help get your resume directly to the hiring manager.

Need help navigating your job?

Expert independent professionals on Upwork can help you find and land your dream job. Whether you need career coaching to help with interview prep or someone to review your resume, you can find talented freelancers in your budget ready to help you get started.

The wrong work environment can add unnecessary stress to your life. Learn how to spot red flags early and avoid these situations so you can find a company that values you and a position that you enjoy. While no job is perfect, and you may have ups and downs, a positive company culture that focuses on employee development and wellness can help provide balance during stressful times.

As a freelancer, you have control over your work. You can choose which clients you work with and the projects you take on. Getting started as a freelancer on Upwork is quick and easy. All you have to do is create an account, make a profile, and start submitting proposals to jobs. Create a schedule that fits your lifestyle and start building your career one client at a time.