5 Ways To Spot A Toxic Company (Before You Accept The Job)

I recently worked with a client who came to me following a disastrous career change. She jumped into working for this company, blinded by all that they were offering her, and less than 6 months after accepting the offer she was living a nightmare in a toxic company.

While there are no 100% guarantees, there are things that you can do to help safeguard your job search and reduce the risk of moving into a toxic workplace before you ever accept an offer with a little bit of due diligence.

Here are my 5 ways to spot a toxic company:

ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION

The job description is the first peek into a company and it’s a gold mine of information if you can read between the lines.

TOO LITTLE INFORMATION OR VAGUENESS OF QUALIFICATIONS

If you read a job description that lacks information can represent several things: laziness, the company doesn’t know what they are looking for, or it could be a scam. All of these are huge red flags.

TOO MUCH INFORMATION OR A LAUNDRY LIST OF REQUIREMENTS

Overly complicated job descriptions with pages of information can indicate red flags around DEI in its culture. According to a recent study, women are less likely to apply for jobs that have long job descriptions or endless lists of requirements.

EXCESSIVE EXPERIENCE FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS

Run if a job asks for 5 years of experience for an entry-level position. This shows a lack of trust and issues with the budget. They want an expert on a novice’s salary.

PROMOTING A HUSTLE CULTURE AND BURNOUT

While no company will come out and say this, there are words to look for. When you see adjectives like fast-paced, high-stress, entrepreneurial, work hard, play hard, these all could be red flags for a company that runs their employees ragged.  

IN THE EMPLOYEE AND CUSTOMER REVIEWS

While any review needs to be taken with a grain of salt, it can also tell you a lot about a company. Check sites like Glassdoor, Google Reviews, and Yelp, and pay attention to the details to pick up on any trends. This can help you do information interviews or reach out to past employees to learn more about the culture of a company.

THROUGH THE COMMUNICATION/ LOGISTICS PROCESS

I always say that it doesn’t get better than the recruitment process. This is the time that they are meant to woo you. If there is a lack of communication, ghosting, confusion, and lack of details around logistics could be a sign of chaotic, toxic company culture.

DURING THE INTERVIEW

The interview process is a great opportunity to start to get to know a company. Avoid asking close-ended questions and read between the lines when receiving their answers. A few questions that can uncover toxicity are:

What would be the best quality to have to succeed in this position? Watch for toxic traits like unwavering dedication or giving 110% of themselves.

How do you deliver feedback and how often? No formal review process or just simply an annual review but no 1:1 touches could be a sign of a toxic culture.  

Why is this position open? Or why did the last person leave? Watch for how they speak about the former employee. Are they gossiping, saying negative things, and spinning it a little too much? What they say (or don’t say) can speak volumes about their culture.

Other observations during the interview process that you can make:

Interactions. How was your experience during scheduling, walking into the office, and engaging with your interviewer? Noticing behaviors can be a good indication of how employees feel there.

The interviewer doesn’t respect your time. If they show up late, come unprepared, or even doesn’t let you ask ALL your questions, it might be a sign they don’t and will not respect your needs.

IN THE OFFER STAGE

So, you made it through all the steps and you get that offer letter! That is so exciting. But before you sign away, you want to read the offer letter carefully as it can reveal some red flags about the company or role.

UNCLEAR SALARY OR COMPENSATION INFORMATION

The offer letter should lay out your terms clearly as day. This means providing detailed information about your salary, benefits, and total compensation. If an offer does not or if there is any confusion, you need to ask questions until you understand or walk away.

A LOWER SALARY THAN YOU DISCUSSED

If you discussed a certain number and your offer letter comes back lower, this is a major red flag. While this could be just a simple mistake, it could also be a sign that the company is not dealing with you in good faith. Again, ask questions and follow up. If you do not feel good about it, do not sign.

CLAUSES, WAIVERS, OR AGREEMENTS

Read these closely and understand what your rights are. Signing this before actually being hired could be a violation of your right, or you could be waiving your rights to file claims.

A LONG WAITING PERIOD FOR BENEFITS

By law, a company cannot extend the waiting period for benefits past 90 days but most are between day one and 30 days. If you encounter an extended waiting period, it could be a sign that the company has high turnover rates.

While looking for a new job can feel already like an overwhelming experience, doing your due diligence can help reduce the risk of getting stuck in a toxic workplace and help increase your chances of landing your dream job instead!