Sometimes you can see something’s off with the company even before joining it. Whether it’s a comment the hiring manager makes during the interview or an odd bullet point on the job listing—or any other suspicious-looking detail, for that matter—it can be enough to make a potential applicant wary or lead to them skipping applying altogether.
Members of the ‘Ask Reddit’ community have recently discussed things that raise suspicion after one user asked them to name the biggest red flag about a company that screams "Don't Join Us". Netizens had plenty to share, so if you’re curious to see what they consider the biggest warning signs, scroll down to find their answers on the list below.
#1
"We work hard, and play hard!"
Look...you're my employer. I have no desire to "play hard" with you outside of work. You are literally paying me to hang out with you during work hours, but when I'm off the clock and you're not paying me?
You can f**k off. I'm going home.
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55points
#2
"Fast Paced, ever chagning, multi task environment! "
Means they're gonna over work you or make you do s**t that isn't in your job description.
Means they're gonna over work you or make you do s**t that isn't in your job description.
45points
#3
''can perform well under stress''
they will stress tf outta you bruv.
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40points
#4
We are a big family, usually means a disfunctional family, that only the senior people reap the true benefits of the profits . the underlings are expected to be loyal, but when its time for budget cuts, it is not meritocracy.
36points
#5
At one interview they asked "are you tough enough to work here?".. That's not a red flag or anything.
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31points
#6
Posters on the walls talking about NOT discussing pay.
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30points
#7
Just 1? In no particular order…
*”Competitive Salary”* - But kept secret.🤫
Wild salary ranges - *”75k to 750k”*. 🧮
Any mention of “*Family*” in a JD or otherwise. 🧑🧑🧒🧒
*One way* interviews.🪞
*Pseudo-Science* based assesments. 👨🏻🔬
More rounds of interviews *than the CEO position*. 👨🏻💼
An over abundance of outdated *motivational posters*. 🏞️
“*Do not apply*” unless (insert list of questionable demands). 📋
Requesting *hours of free work*, ‘as part of the hiring process’. 💸
I could go on, but…🤦🏻♂️.
27points
#8
The interviewers scowl when you say one of your priorities is "work-life balance".
26points
#9
Competitive wages and flexible hours...
Means they are offering minimum wage with little negotiation beyond it and the hours are "flexible" for them the schedule you anytime within your availability - some weeks can be filled to the brim while others only have a few hours.
Means they are offering minimum wage with little negotiation beyond it and the hours are "flexible" for them the schedule you anytime within your availability - some weeks can be filled to the brim while others only have a few hours.
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26points
#10
When employees are leaving in droves, it's a strong signal that something's amiss. It could indicate poor management, a toxic work culture, or lack of growth opportunities.
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23points
#11
This might be a German thing: There are quite a few companies advertising a "fruit basket" (fresh fruits for employees) as a benefit in job ads. Many see that as a red flag because if a company is offering this little and even bragging about it then it's misleading. Offering fresh fruit is certainly not a bad thing per se but it can be a red flag if it's overemphasised.
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23points
#12
Complaining about employee behavior in the listing.
21points
#13
If you’ve seen the same job ad come up before, (in the last 12 months) it can indicate there is high turnover for the role and people aren’t hanging around. It must be a real s**t show. Speaking from my own personal mistake on that one!
Flaky motherhood statements are also a flag that they are more show than go.
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21points
#14
On Glassdoor, every review must have a Pro and Con. If the Con is "if you can't thrive in a fast paced environment, this job isn't for you": that is a red flag that all positive reviews were written by leadership.
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21points
#16
My current job has issues where management tends to fire people once their three months probation period ends because that's when they are accepted into our union and then it's super difficult to fire someone. Every person we've hired over the past six months has been fire just before their three month.
Also my current job. The OGs of the workplace bully the s**t out of new hires. It's always the elderly women who have worked at the place for like 40 years too. They talk so much s**t. And they tend to influence management on their firing practices by sowing discontent about certain employees. I'm so glad that I work in a clean room by myself all day where I don't have to deal with them.
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19points
#18
In France, there is a bunch of mandatory avantages like meal tickets, transportation card... If it's mentioned as a plus it's a big redflag.
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19points
#19
Passionate self-starter.
Means they want you to work extra hours without being told to with no direction.
18points
