How to Spot a Bad Job Opportunity

When a new job comes up, the first thing that many people look at is how much it pays. However, that's not the only thing that matters, as the working environment is often as important as the amount of money that the company gives you. So how do you spot a bad job opportunity?

As with any new job prospect, the first thing you need to do is research the company. Why has the job come up? Is the company expanding, or is there another reason? Sites like glassdoor.com can provide a serious insight into the culture at a company. Naturally, dissatisfied employees are more likely to express unhappiness than satisfied employees, but look at the number of negative reports compared to the number of employees on a site such as LinkedIn, and this should tell you roughly the amount of dissatisfaction with the company. According to CareerBliss, you should look at customer reviews as well.

Assuming that your search has brought up nothing untoward, the next opportunity to spot a bad job opportunity is at the interview. Make sure you ask why the new job has come up. It might be that someone has quit. You might also ask whether the person leaving the position will be training you or whether someone else will be doing it. This should tell you whether the person quit, walked out or was fired. Ask questions about the workplace, and listen to how the interviewer replies—is it with negative or positive imagery? If the interviewer fails to answer your questions or is evasive, it may be a sign of a bad work environment. Leave if the interviewer is outright rude to you, as it's not worth your time if the company representative cannot treat you with respect before you've even started.

While you're being interviewed at the company, take note of how other employees react. Sometimes, a bad workplace just feels wrong as soon as you walk through the door. A bad workplace typically is secretive and lacks communication. Look at how managers react to staff as well. A toxic boss can be a real career and performance killer, particularly as you're starting a new job.

Don't forget to consider what the new job entails. If it involves a lot of flying and you hate traveling by airplane, it's not going to be a good fit. Consider work schedules and your own personal schedules as well.

A new job should be a good opportunity, but if that job is in a toxic work environment, it may quickly become a nightmare. Any new job opportunity should be carefully assessed to see if it is appropriate for you and whether it's with a company that you really want to work for.

(Photo courtesy of stockimages / freedigitalphotos.net)