You finally get an interview for a job. You’re excited and nervous – a little bit all over the show. You know you can’t mess this up, so you dig deep and go all out to prepare. Here are some red and green flags to look out for when looking for a job:

Red flags

High staff turnover – This means that a job is posted over and over again. It could simply be that the company hasn’t found the best candidate, but it could also suggest that people are not staying for long periods. This could mean there could be a problem with the position or management. Where you can, check reviews on Glassdoor or LinkedIn.

Complaints about the company – If your interviewer lets it slip that he doesn’t like a particular person or that a specific department is not pulling its weight, that could mean that there may be a management issue and may indicate an unhealthy work environment.

Contract – If you do not receive a contract, that is a huge red flag. You may have discussed your role in the interview, and it should be written on paper to protect yourself.

Green flags

Transparency – When a job is advertised and the salary is clearly shown or they ask what your salary expectation is.

Company benefits – When the job post stipulates whether you get medical aid, whether you get off on your birthday, and what the annual leave is that you are entitled to.

Growth in the business – It’s a positive indication when the company speaks about training and your career path. This could include doing a course, working with different people on different projects or attending various workshops.

Honest and open interviewer – You will also get to ask a few questions during the interview, so be sure to ask questions that show you have given thought to the job you will be doing and the company you will be joining. You would be able to tell if your interviewer is being honest. For instance, if you’re asking about some challenges the company may face. All companies have challenges and the interviewer should be able to answer this without a hiccup.

Access to your line manager – It’s so important that you feel comfortable going to your supervisor or manager, and that they’re open to answering any questions you may have. If you are given a probation period, this is a good time to find out if you are comfortable with how you are managed.

What an interviewer looks for in a candidate:
● It’s important to research a company. Know all the ins and outs of the company, even the not-so-great headlines or reviews. Knowing about the company gives the interviewer the impression that you care about the company and its values.
● Research the potential questions that could be asked in the interview. Being prepared will leave a good impression.
● Know your strengths and weaknesses because they may ask. If asked about your weakness, mention your weakness but say that you’re open to learning more and developing yourself so that the weakness does not become a permanent challenge.
● Smile and be friendly and confident. Remember, you’re selling yourself, so to speak, so don’t sell yourself short. Talk confidently about your strengths and what you’re good at, but also don’t exaggerate and come off as boasting.

Here is Tarren’s jobseeking story
“I applied for a job and was happy to get called for an interview.I was excited to be talking to the woman who was potentially offering me a chance for an interview.

Anyway, the woman asked me a few questions, just for about five minutes. She then emailed me afterward saying I have to do an entrance test – that’s quite normal in most industries.

I did the test, and they were happy with my results. Then, they wanted to do a formal interview. I happily obliged and got ready for the interview date.

While preparing for the interview, I researched the company, but things were just not making sense. The website had no contact details, nothing. The company had no social media, and that was even weirder because they were a marketing company, and they claimed that they had been in business for many years.

The website also made no sense. At first glance, it looked professional; it was well laid out and everything, but if you looked closer, nothing made sense on the website. For instance, they had a section about who their staff was, but there wasn’t a single photo or biography about anyone.

I just had a gut feeling and spoke to my dad about it. He agreed that something was not right with the company.

I emailed the lady and said I was no longer interested in the job. She asked why and I said I had got another job offer.

These days one has to be so careful; I’m glad I didn’t go for the interview and am glad I trusted my gut feeling.”

Final word

Finding a job is difficult, so it’s important to be aware of both the pitfalls and green flags of searching for one. Do your research on everything and anything related to the company.

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