Red Flags at work: How to detect a toxic selection process?

Red flags at work are subjective signals that the work environment and work ethic can be detrimental to employees and future candidates. Therefore, it is essential to know what the company to which job applicants apply is like before conducting an interview. 

Detecting red flags in companies during a selection process is crucial to avoid toxic work environments. If you are interested in knowing how to identify these red flags and how to deal with them, this article is for you!

A selection process riddled with red flags

A toxic job interview is characterized by the presence of different red flags that indicate problems in the company. The most common is the lack of clear information about the position, for example, neither the company nor the managers are concise about the duties to be performed, the working conditions and the contract. Red flags at work are subjective signals that the work environment and work ethic can be detrimental to employees and future candidates. Therefore, it is essential to know what the company to which job applicants apply is like before conducting an interview. 

In addition, if the hiring company does not respond to questions quickly or is slow to give updates, it is synonymous with disorganization and disrespect for the candidates. Another red flag alert at work is if the interviewer does not have a clear follow-up plan, does not know your resume and is unable to describe the position clearly as it reflects an inadequate management of the process. 

From Eucalypto Group we recommend to all people who are in selection processes to avoid answering questions about their personal life during interviews. This practice, all too common, has become a red flag in regular work. Finally, if during the visit to a company you notice a tense atmosphere or unhappy employees, you will find yourself in a problematic work environment.

Tips on how to approach a job interview with red flags

It is impossible for every job interview to have a happy ending. Knowing how to face this challenging situation is key. That is why, from Eucalypto Group, as IT Recruitment specialists, we offer help to candidates during this process, especially to those young professionals with less experience in the working world. Thus, some tips on how to deal with a job plagued by red flags are: 

• Keep calm: if during the process you notice that the job is not for you, keep your composure until the end of the interview. We recommend never leaving mid-interview, as this is a way to demonstrate your professionalism and know-how in an uncomfortable situation.
• Learn from experience: a selection process with red flags allows you to gain experience for future job interviews. Analyze which points can be useful for the future and identify where you could improve your performance.
• Evaluate the company's answers: if the process really has red flags, the interviewer will hardly give you any feedback. Pay attention to this situation, since evasive answers to your doubts may confirm your suspicions.
• Don't be discouraged: a job interview does not define your worth as a professional. Maybe it wasn't the time or the place. Consider every opportunity as a learning opportunity to improve certain communication and presentation skills.
• Lean on your network: tell friends, family and even industry peers about the experience. The more people who know how much of a company's network flags internally, the more likely it is to fail in the future.

Online selection processes: are they a red flag at work?

The selection processes to get a job are getting longer and longer as companies are looking for young talent but with the necessary skills for the position. Normally, companies publish their offers on digital portals or IT recruitment oriented websites such as Eucalypto Group.

A point to take into account are the requirements that are demanded to access the next level. In our blog you can find out which are the tech skills most demanded by companies for the future. From Eucalypto Group we recommend reviewing what requeriments are necessary and what functions will be performed in the position. A large number of both means misaligned expectations and is therefore a red flag at work.

The trend of conducting interviews online saves time and filters out the most suitable applicants for a job. On the other hand, the interpersonal relationship that was managed in face-to-face selection processes disappears. The only way to achieve this relationship is to get past the first part of the selection process because the final candidates usually have interviews with company managers before receiving a formal job offer. 

In this sense, telecommuting and post-Covid-19 experience, online selection processes have become commonplace. However, they can also present clear red flags at work:

• Lack of human interaction: when the process is completely automated with no human interaction and there are even machines that read resumes, it can mean that the company does not value personal contact.
• Interviews without video: conducting interviews only by chat or email can be a red flag, as it prevents you from assessing the culture and work environment.
• Constant technical problems: if the company has recurring technical problems during the process, it may reflect a lack of organization and adequate resources.
• Lack of clarity about the company: the absence of detailed information about the company and the position is a red flag.

Recognizing red flags in a company during a selection process is essential to avoid future employment problems. If you have followed our advice and are alert to the signs we have mentioned in the article, you will be able to make more accurate decisions and protect your professional well-being. 

On our website we have job offers for those professionals who are actively looking for a job. As IT Recruitment specialists, we identify, attract and select technology talent for companies. In addition, we coordinate interviews between applicants and companies, negotiate working conditions, avoid companies with network flags and facilitate the integration process of new employees.