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Fast Company
12 hours ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Red flags to look for during a job interview
One of the worst mistakes I ever made applying for a job was ignoring red flags during the job interview process. Looking back, there were several things that made me uneasy. But I was enamored with how the company described its culture, the people, and the role, and so I ignored them. As it turned out, all of those things were poorly defined or a far cry from what was promised. I had left a toxic work environment only to end up in an equally bad situation. Sometimes, as job seekers, we're so desperate to escape our current situations that we forget job interviews are a two-way street. We overfocus on performing well during interviews and forget to ask questions about the company or role (or ask only surface-level questions). But the more you can try to suss out during the interview process, the better shape you'll be in when deciding whether or not to accept or decline an offer. Here are some best practices. Red flags Some companies are not great at writing job descriptions—or they'll write perfect versions of a role that don't reflect reality. When you're talking to the hiring manager, ask about day-to-day responsibilities. The manager should have a crystal clear idea of what you're expected to do, even if the description is, 'You will wear a lot of hats.' I've worked for many small companies where I was expected to adjust to an ever-changing role. That can be fine, as long as you know upfront and your performance is evaluated accordingly. If the company only has a vague idea of what it needs from the role, odds are it won't be possible for you to meet expectations. It's also a red flag if the company asks you to put a significant amount of work into the interview process. During the first interview, you should ask how many additional interviews you can expect. Three half-hour interviews total? Probably fine. Five hour-long interviews, plus a lengthy, unpaid test assignment? That company doesn't value your time, has trouble making decisions, or both. What to ask the interviewer You'll want to ask for details about the team structure and the type of work you'll be doing. These basic questions will help you determine if it's a job you'd enjoy. But a few probing questions can help you learn more about the company itself. 'Why is this role open?' Is the company in growth mode and needs to add to the team? Did the prior person leave because they accepted their dream job? Or has the company experienced a lot of turnover? 'How flexible is the work environment?' If flexibility is important to you, you'll want to ask the right questions. Some companies claim to be flexible when, in reality, they aren't. A good question to ask is whether people work synchronously or asynchronously. If people work synchronously, the company is probably less flexible. You can also ask how many meetings you can expect per week, which will impact your flexibility. 'How is feedback given?' This ties into how well the role is defined. Does the company have a formal review process? If so, how often? You want to make sure you can meet expectations, even if expectations are ever-changing at a small company. Don't end up in the same bad job situation Companies will likely look at your LinkedIn profile and ask for references, trying to determine what kind of an employee you are. You should do the same. Check Glassdoor, but read reviews with a grain of salt. Employees of small companies may be afraid to leave reviews, and sometimes reviews are skewed toward employees who had negative experiences. You can also check LinkedIn. Find former employees and look at how long they were with the company. One employee with a short tenure doesn't say much, but lots of turnover is a red flag. If you're comfortable, you could even send a DM to a former employee and ask about their experience. As a job seeker, it's your version of 'checking references.' Above all, don't ignore your gut. If you get a bad vibe during the interview, it will probably be magnified once you're hired. Unless you're desperate for a new role, it's better to keep looking than to end up in a job you regret. —Anna Burgess Yang
Forbes
16-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How To Handle Your First Job Jitters
Five tips for preparing for your first job or internship. As another academic year comes to a close, current college students and brand-new college graduates are gearing up for what comes next. And for many, the summer of 2025 signals the start of a new professional chapter in their lives. Whether you're preparing for your first internship or your first full-time job, here are five quick tips to overcome any first-job jitters and successfully navigate this new experience: Before your start date, dedicate the time to developing a deep understanding of your company, the industry it occupies and the trends and challenges it faces. By researching in advance — this is one of my four steps to finding your first job after college — you'll be able to figure out how you can contribute to the organization right away. Organize your calendar and identify days you have appointments or will be out of town. Communicate those dates to your hiring manager as soon as possible. Consider adopting habits that set you up for success. That might mean setting a more regular bedtime, scheduling your workouts, and setting a monthly budget and sticking to it. Ask lots of questions. Don't be shy about inquiring about the meaning of industry acronyms and company jargon or why your team does things a certain way. You're new on the job, so you're not expected to know everything yet. This goes double for interns, who should be using this experience as a tremendous learning opportunity. Don't shy away from connecting with coworkers across your organization. Interns and new hires should not only introduce themselves to their team members, but also employees in other departments and divisions. Grabbing a coffee or taking a short walk with a coworker affords the chance to learn more about what they do, how their work intersects with yours and about the company's goals and operations. Take advantage of any companywide programs or events. Use these opportunities to connect with colleagues and learn more about the business. The only constant in business is change, which means you're likely to encounter situations where demands and expectations shift, often with little warning. These changes could require you to have to adopt new skills and priorities and possibly take on new tasks. The good news for the Class of 2025: You know what it takes to pivot. The pandemic impacted your experiences in both high school and college, and a turbulent job market required you to reset your skills and career expectations time and time again. By being flexible, you'll be able to adapt to whatever comes your way. Learn your company's communication culture. Do employees typically communicate internally by email? Or do they use Slack, Google Chat or something similar? And do your colleagues prefer to meet by video conference or in person? Work closely with your hiring manager to understand communication norms and preferences. In many workplaces, a Slack message demands an immediate response, while email replies can be a little more delayed. Effective online communication, such as sending a professional email with the proper tone, information and subject line, is a critical skill that must be learned quickly. Also make sure to communicate your professional needs. Let your hiring manager know about your areas of interest, skills you'd like to improve and your goals for this job and your next one. Be sure to ask your hiring manager to clarify any requests or information that are unclear or confusing. Many employers offer a wide variety of benefits to their employees. These can include medical and dental insurance, paid time off, and 401(k) contributions toward retirement. Some are offered at no cost to the employee, while some are paid through a paycheck deduction. Leverage your company's human resources department to help you understand how you can best use these benefits. Additionally, some companies offer benefits that can help recent graduates with top-of-mind responsibilities. This includes student loan repayment offerings and learning and development programs where companies cover the cost of training opportunities so their employees can learn new skills or improve their current ones. Beyond this, some companies even offer tuition reimbursement programs so employees can earn another credential or degree. It's completely normal to have some jitters when you start an internship or your first full-time job. But you won't be the new person for long. By being prepared, flexible, communicative and curious about your new workplace and the benefits it offers, you'll become a confident and seasoned professional in no time.
