Are you looking for a new job opportunity? Then you certainly want to find a workplace that suits you not only in terms of financial compensation and job responsibilities, but also in terms of overall atmosphere and a friendly team. In any case, you should try to avoid joining a toxic environment with toxic behaviors. Therefore, we provide a list of warning signs that can alert you during the recruitment process that the workplace you are applying to may have certain toxic characteristics.
The following warning signs, published by Forbes, do not necessarily indicate toxicity one hundred percent of the time. However, they serve as possible warnings that should not be ignored.
Chaos in the organization of the recruitment process
The first warning sign is if the recruitment process feels chaotically organized. If company representatives fail to keep promises and deadlines, or if the process drags on excessively, this may indicate deeper problems within the company as a whole.
Disrespect for your time
Does the manager or recruiter arrive late to the interview without a proper apology? Are you left waiting for a long time at the reception? Are they inflexible about the timing of your interview? If company staff show no basic respect for your time, something is wrong.
Inappropriate, forbidden, or unreasonable questions
If you are asked inappropriate or even illegal questions during any stage of the recruitment process, you should definitely pay close attention.
Pressure, lying, vague communication
If a candidate senses pressure, lies, or manipulation during the recruitment process, they should recognize that such behavior is likely normalized in the company and that current employees may be treated even worse.
Negative remarks about former or current employees
Does the recruiter speak harshly about former or current employees? Was your predecessor described as incompetent, strange, or unreliable by a company representative? You should then ask why the company hired that person at all and whether there are still similar employees currently in the company.
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