Job posts can show red flags about a potential company or position. These are warning signs to be aware of.

• When looking for a new career, the first thing you often come across is a job posting.
• But if you know what to look for, you can spot the red flags.
• Insider had expert advice on what to look for in job ads that could indicate problems with the organization or position.

Job postings can provide you with both positive and negative information.

If you know what red flags to look for in a job ad, you may be able to spare yourself the pain of dealing with a bad job or employer.

Here are the red flags experts say you should look for in job posts, and what they may signal about a potential employer or position.

Is the job post even real?

Make sure the job is available before deciding whether the organization or role is right for you. Granted, this isn’t always easy to achieve, but there are clear signs that the job posting you’re seeing is probably a fake from a scammer.

Suspicion should be raised if the contact details do not match the advertised employer, or if information about the firm is unclear, incorrect or completely absent from the job posting. said Keirsten Greggs, founder of Trap Recruiter and talent acquisition consultant and career coach. Additionally, watch out for obvious spelling or grammar mistakes, and remember that no one should ask for sensitive information like your Social Security number or banking details.

Similarly, be wary of what Job Post consultant and Three Ears Media producer Katrina Kiben calls a “sea of ​​sameness.”

“You know that feeling you get when you see a job title with the exact same wording from three or more organizations? When individuals create job postings using ChatGPT, they create them to fit their own needs, rather than customizing them, according to Kiben. Job postings and positions are still May be open in certain circumstances, but note that “in these circumstances the job may not reflect what is advertised.”

Missing information about pay

Salary is the most important factor when looking for a job.

“When people ask me if they should include a salary in a job posting, I ask them, ‘Have you ever taken a job without first knowing how much you’ll make?'” Kiben said. It is only a matter of human judgment. We will never take a job without first finding a salary. Without such basic knowledge we cannot take decisions.

Thus it is worth noting that when a corporation takes up this issue or does not say anything about it.

“Look at the vague compensation language,” Greggs said. “It should be able to give you a range.”

In practice, this means keeping an eye out for terms like “competitive salary” and “commensurate with experience,” but also for overly broad pay ranges.

Going overboard with must-haves

However, excessive listings can cause problems in other domains, especially in the prerequisites and credentials section of job postings.

According to Greggs, “Laundry lists are a huge red flag.” This indicates that they are not sure what they are really looking for. If the lists are long, it suggests that they’ve overestimated the standard of work and put everything out there to see what they can get away with.”

According to Greggs, it can also take the form of unreasonable “projects, testing, and rigorous job requirements that become unpaid labor for the applicant” or “harsh, harsh, or aggressive language” that discourages applicants who don’t meet all of them. specified requirements.

Possible signs of burnout culture or a lack of support

Certain terms in the job description may also mean that there may be difficulties with the employer or the position in the future.

For example, claiming to have a “work hard, play hard” mentality in your business is often “indicative of a burnout culture,” according to Greggs.

According to Kibben, a “fast-paced environment” can be a warning of impending burnout or even a sign that the company is “putting too much on your plate.” “Usually it’s also a warning that someone can’t keep up, and instead of adjusting the workload, they blame that person,” he said.

According to Greggs, if an employer says they’re looking for a “self-starter,” they can give applicants the impression they’re too hands-on. “This may mean that there is no training and development available,” she said. “It could be an indication that the group doesn’t support you, and it could be an indication that they don’t know what your job is.”

Going beyond the job post

Of course, those aren’t necessarily signs of a problem. “Job descriptions are just not well written,” according to Greggs, in many instances.

“Be on the lookout for red flags, but don’t judge yourself or the employer based on something,” she said. “People need to look for authenticity and look beyond the job description the way I encourage employers and other recruiters to look beyond the resume.”

In addition to job postings, look online for information about the firm and the position to help you decide what to do next.

“It’s not that people are innocent or trying to fool you in any way,” Greggs said. “It worries you.”Why am I drawn to this job? is a question you should ask yourself. The positions you ought to be seeking are ones for which you read the job description and think, “Yes, I think I could work there.”

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