6 Ways of Identifying a ‘Bad Employer’ During Job Interviews

By Elizabeth Benu,
With the rising cases of companies mistreating their  employees and even unfairly dismissing them, a lot job seekers fear getting into bed with a bad employer.

Mercy Kerubo writes in an email, “A month ago I went for an interview where the receptionist was shouting at clients telling them to switch off their phones if they wanted her assistance.

I felt that if I would be employed there I would undergo the same treatment. Apart from the receptionist shouting, are there ways someone can identify a bad company during the interview?”

Majority of your hours are spent at work and that should be reason enough to avoid working in a bad company. But how can you spot a bad company at the interview process?

Charles Purdy, a Career Coach says that the first sign should be unprofessional or disrespectful communication with you.

“Your treatment during the hiring process is a clue as to how you’ll be treated as an employee. Once you’ve started a dialogue with a HRManager or recruiter, you should expect to be treated with courtesy and respect,” he says.

He gives a second sign as the work place seeming unhappy saying that one shouldn’t take a job without paying a visit to where they’ll be working.

He further adds that, “Note the attitudes and interactions of the workers there as well as the overall environment especially in employee common areas. Warning signs include unclean or unsafe-looking workspaces and disgruntled faces on employees.”

Alison Green, a HR Manager, says that asking why the position is open and why the previous person left would be another way to find out if the company is a good fit.

“If the person left after less than a year you want to know why. Is the workload unmanageable? Are the expectations unrealistic? Is the boss impossible to get along with? Hearing about the experience of people in the job can give you some insight into what you might encounter in the role,” she advices.

Ms. Green also advises that asking questions concerning the job and work environment is an extra way to know if the company has bad policy.

“Try asking questions like: What time do you normally come in to work and leave for the day? What are the busiest times of year, and what are those times like? and What kind of person fits in well here and what type of person isn’t a strong fit?” she points out.

She however adds that job seekers should be suspicious of interviewers who tell them of a perfect work place. According to her, even the best company is always aiming for better.

An additional way as advised by Ms. Green is to look at the employer’s behavior during the interview.

“Too often in a hiring process, candidates ignore important clues about how an employer functions and then are surprised when they see those same traits play out once they’re working there.”

She adds that, “For instance, if the employer handles the hiring process in a disorganized and chaotic way assume that the work culture is disorganized and chaotic too.”

Lastly she advises that job seekers should do their homework.

“Check LinkedIn for any connections with anyone likely to knows about the company and ask to talk to others who work there. Gather as many opinions as you can and watch for patterns.

Do your research into this aspect of an employer as well as into its financial situation,” she concludes.

For more interview tips consult elizabeth@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke

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