Five red flags to look for during a job search

Job searching is one of the hardest and most draining processes ever. It can be a long journey full of rejection emails and there are tons of stories of people who applied for years before they finally landed a role.

This kind of stress can leave any job seeker desperate. You might reach a point where you’re willing to skip over some important details, then eventually end up getting scammed or quitting within a short time. The best way to protect yourself so you don’t end up wasting your time is being aware of some of the red flags.

Companies with no online presence

Sure, not every company has an online presence however, companies and institutions that are exceptions are those that are generally in a field that doesn’t prioritize an online presence and well-known brands that are already established.

While there could still be genuine companies that don’t have a website or social media presence, it’s riskier to sign up for a job there. Many of these companies are actually fake entities that employ innocent job seekers. Be on the lookout and make sure the websites are functional too not just a front.

Suspicious managers/founders

Before you sink your teeth into anything, investigate who the managers and founders are. It is not uncommon to come across people who were listed as managers under seven other active companies which is literally impossible.

If you don’t have access to this information, investigate who the recruiters are. If they appear sketchy with unprofessional profile pictures, incomplete information and missing gaps, it’s probably not a good idea to send your details.

Overwhelmingly bad reviews

There are platforms like Glassdoor that allow job seekers to gauge what their experience will be like if they get the job. Former and current employees leave their reviews and some of them are basically warning you not to apply.

Of course, not all negative reviews are necessarily bad but if you come across some saying that a place is a scam or that it has a high turnover rate, run.

Long vague tests/questionnaires

Tests are often a part of the interview process especially for remote jobs. You might find some tests that gauge your analytical skills, your interpersonal skills and other common tests that help recruiters identify who best fits the role.

There is, however, a problem if you notice they’re requesting you to fill in those irrelevant, pages long questionnaires and tests that have nothing to do with the role. This is probably a scheme to collect your information.

Strange job offers on text

There is no legitimate or at least worthwhile company that texts or sends WhatsApp messages about a job opening. These are scammers who might have collected your contact details from places like LinkedIn and other job sites, and are trying to scam you in any way they can.

Usually they will text you an offer they know many people are looking for like remote job offers that supposedly pay thousands per day. Block these numbers and never click any links they send to you.