Ever found yourself in a job that seemed like a good fit at the time you accepted it, but in hindsight, was a disaster waiting to happen?
If you have, you’re not alone – and if you haven’t, it’s not recommended. Here are five “red flags” that indicate a potential job will be a poor fit:
The job described in the interview isn’t the one you thought you applied for.
The interview should provide more information about the job. But that information should complement and support the information in the job description – not contradict it. If you start to feel like you walked into the wrong interview, the job may be the wrong one for you.
You find the values or mission of the organization tough to swallow.
You don’t have to be an organization’s biggest cheerleader – but you do need to find the organization’s values and mission compatible with your own. Otherwise, you’ll waste a great deal of mental and emotional energy doing a job you can’t support. Burnout is inevitable.
You’re not excited about the job’s demands.
If the job doesn’t sound like one you’re eager to roll out of bed in the morning to do, move on. Taking a job that doesn’t inspire you will make it difficult to do your best work. It may also, over time, have a negative effect on your mood and even your mental health.
Questions about support are met with confusion, stares or “we don’t do that here.”
An organization that cares about your ability to do your best work will offer support for that work, whether that’s paid time off for training or seminars, access to continuing education resources or other forms of help. Organizations that leave you on your own to keep learning aren’t willing to invest in you. Think twice about investing in them.
You don’t want to talk about the interview.
Perhaps you have a sense that something went wrong, but you can’t put your finger on it. When loved ones ask how the interview went, you say “Fine” without elaborating, or you admit “I don’t want to talk about it.” Trust your instincts: If an interview doesn’t leave you enthusiastic, the job is probably not right for you.
At Kent Legal, our recruiters can help you find a job that offers a great fit for you. Because we know the organizations for which we recruit, we can help you identify and avoid potential “red flags” that might result in a poor fit. Contact us today to learn more about our legal support job opportunities in the greater Toronto area.